During 2014 NHS Ayrshire & Arran picked up three awards for their contribution towards energy efficiency and renewable technologies.

Two awards were collected at the NHS National Services Scotland annual conference. The 'Engineering and Energy Excellence Award’ was received for the Ecocent kitchen boiler project at University Hospital Crosshouse. The new boilers use the kitchen’s excess heat and moisture to generate domestic hot water, which is then fed back into the kitchen for use by catering staff. This is the first time such technology has been used in the NHS. A bi-product of this process is cold air, which is used to help keep the kitchen cool.

The second award was the Paul Taylor Environment award, received on behalf of NHS Ayrshire & Arran by Energy Manager Alastair Kay for contributions in energy saving and carbon reduction work. The third award was presented to NHS Ayrshire & Arran at a ceremony in London, for their 'Contribution to Energy Efficiency and Renewables improvement work in 2014’.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran is one of Scotland’s leading NHS boards in terms of sustainable energy production.

Other innovative work includes the installation of new solar LED lighting at Ayrshire Maternity Unit car park. The lighting is not connected to any power source and generates all the energy it needs through daylight. LED lighting with automated controls are being installed throughout the hospital sites, and achieving energy savings of more than 60 per cent in most cases.

John Wright, Director for Corporate Support Services, commented: “We have invested a lot into renewable and sustainable technologies, in working towards saving money in the long term. Our work in meeting national targets is leading the way in carbon and energy reduction having exceeded the national carbon reduction target by 16 per cent and the energy reduction target by 5%.”