Sustainability Horizon Scanning Volume 1 Issue 9

UK climate projections: helping the health sector prepare for climate change

Source: Defra

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Press release

In a nutshell: The health sector is being given a helping hand to plan and adapt for climate change with a tailored event hosted by Defra and the UK Climate Impacts Programme on November 5th.

Length of publication: Webpage

Communities for Health: unlocking the energy within communities to improve health

Source:  Primary Care Commissioning

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This is the second report from the The Communities for Health Programme. The programme exemplifies the increasing role local government plays in supporting health improvement and reducing health inequalities.

Length of publication: 183 pages [10 pages of introductory report; rest is broken up by local authority]

The CRC energy efficiency scheme and the NHS

Source: NHS Confederation

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell:  This briefing outlines the main details of The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme and how it will affect NHS Trusts. It is due to begin in April 2010 with an introductory three-year phase, is a mandatory energy efficiency scheme that will affect both the public and the private sector. 

Length of publication: 6 pages

Budgeting for Sustainability

Source: Shine Network

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Conference

In a nutshell: Provides some of the slides from the whole life costing seminar, plus other materials for practical learning. Aimed at “the client side of a healthcare build project”.

Length of publication: Webpage

Virtualisation and the other green computing initiative

Source: British Journal of Healthcare Computing and Information Management

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Discusses green IT initiatives, including virtualisation and consolidation, and how these can help improve the energy efficiency of IT systems, and practical applications of these greener systems.

Length of publication: Webpage

Some important notes: See also this story from Connecting for Health, about the Green ICT award recently won by CfH for its green ICT initiatives.

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Smarter thinking on energy use

Source: Guardian

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Gives details of a new meter, developed at Oxford University, that can analyse energy useage within households. The smart meter can help identify where energy is being wasted.

Length of publication: Webpage