Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is improving its carbon footprint with the help of a renewable energy firm.

The Trust has brought in Eco Environments to handle the installation of almost 200 solar panels across Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital.

Ian Hinitt, deputy director of estates at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted with our new solar installations across the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital.

“This £200,000 investment in renewable energy sources puts Bradford Teaching Hospitals at the forefront of combating climate change impact. This latest installation alone equates to planting 1,590 trees or displacing emissions from eight homes or 12 cars.

“Over the last three years the foundation trust has successfully secured £4.2million-worth of grants to invest in energy-efficiency programmes which, in turn, have led to significant productivity savings.

“We are also working closely with Cambridge University to investigate the impact of climate change on our wards. This research will not only benefit Bradford patients but its results will have significant impact for the NHS and hospitals worldwide.”

The two-part project saw a 38kWp installation comprising 158 Hyundai panels and a further 10kWp installation made up of 40 panels.

The combined installation will enable the hospital trust to save more than 22,000kg in C02 emissions annually and reduce its electricity bill by almost £3,000 a year.

Chris Acton, Eco Environments’ commercial business development manager, said: “There is no question that a growing number of hospital trusts are seriously considering renewable energy and energy- efficiency schemes.

“Projects like Bradford’s can not only help a trust meet its environmental targets but also help save significant amounts of money at a time when public spending is under massive scrutiny.”