Slimming down: cutting Nuffield Health’s energy needs has been saved
Case studies
Slimming down: cutting Nuffield Health’s energy needs
We helped Nuffield Health, one of the leading not-for-profit healthcare organisations, to reduce its energy usage, freeing up funds for investment
Nuffield Health is one of the leading not-for-profit healthcare organisations, providing access to thousands of health experts through its 31 hospitals, 77 gyms, 212 corporate Fitness & Wellbeing centres and 4 stand-alone medical centres. Its comprehensive and interconnected services range from health assessments, diagnostics and hospital procedures to physiotherapy, personal training and nutritional therapy.
One of Nuffield Health’s largest operational costs lies in its utilities consumption. By 2014, Nuffield Health had seen its energy costs increase steadily - partly due to the growth of the business and investment in new technologies and treatments, but also due to the rising costs of utilities. Nuffield Health set an aspirational target to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in energy consumption by 2020; not only will this help reduce operating costs to enable reinvestment in its other services, it will also allow Nuffield Health to grow sustainably; as a low-carbon, energy-efficient business.
Deloitte completed a six-week energy diagnostic, evaluating ten areas of the management system against good practice in energy price, supply and demand risks. The diagnostic activity looked at several areas including capital expenditures as a way to cut costs, and considered how operational, contractual or strategic opportunities could reduce Nuffield Health’s energy consumption. We gave each of the sites we assessed a report, tailored to its specific situation. These changes formed the basis of a planned seven per cent reduction in energy use across the group by the end of the first year.
Bringing together teams from our Consulting and Financial Advisory businesses, Deloitte worked with Nuffield Health to put in place a more efficient approach to the use of energy. This included using relevant business data to encourage and empower behavioural change, establishing on-site roles, responsibilities and technical guidance for staff.
As of January 2016, Nuffield Health’s Fitness & Wellbeing gyms now use eight per cent less energy, and its hospitals ten per cent less, indicating a significant step towards the target of 25 per cent reduction by 2020. Various business units throughout the organisation reported that the changes made are improving operating performance, including better temperature control, more consistent lighting, and improved ventilation.
This marks just the start of a 2020 strategy, with Nuffield Health’s Fitness & Wellbeing gyms now rolling out new swimming pool covers to reduce heat loss, organisation-wide LED lighting, heat recovery through Combined Heat & Power installations, and solar panels across the estate.
This reduction in energy use is reflected in a reduction in carbon emissions and air pollution, which is often linked to serious respiratory health issues - just some of the other key benefits of delivering sustainable change at this prominent UK charity.
