The free seminar on Thursday 13 August, hosted by Wolseley’s specialist electrical products distributor, has been developed to support the ‘Saving Carbon, Improving Health’ carbon reduction strategy which was launched by the NHS early this year. The event at Wolseley’s Sustainable Building Center (SBC) in Leamington Spa will provide practical steps towards reducing healthcare estates’ carbon footprints, and give examples of best practice, product developments and case studies. New technologies and products, such as the latest high efficiency LED lighting and motion-activated lights, will also be highlighted as tools to help bring cost savings to the healthcare sector.

Tim Pollard, Wolseley’s head of sustainability, said: “This event aims to provide tangible measures towards reducing the carbon footprint and increasing energy efficiency of healthcare organisations. Any sustainable strategy for change should address the three basic issues: environmental, economic and social. The seminar not only addresses how this can be achieved through technology and management, but also how Electric Center can help recycle old and inefficient lamps, fixtures and fittings and reduce the amount of artificial lighting and energy being used.”

Lighting in a healthcare environment not only affects the carbon footprint – energy represents 22 per cent of the NHS’s carbon footprint – but also several other important factors; particularly, improving the indoor environment for staff, patients and visitors. The re-use of natural lighting by channelling it to unlit areas not only has a positive aesthetic effect, but also improves the overall operational efficiency of a building.

The seminar runs from 9.30am – 3pm and includes a tour of the Sustainable Building Center which features a wide selection of available sustainable products and renewable technologies – in their working environment. The free event is open to all those involved within healthcare energy and estates management and is relevant to both public and private sector healthcare personnel.

To book your place email sbc@wolseley.co.uk or click on this link to go direct to the booking website https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=YFqbwjNPQWv_2b00Uvk5YDeQ_3d_3d.

The company was awarded more categories than any other supplier, and is now one of the preferred suppliers for plumbing, sanitaryware, mechanical and pipelines, electrical sundries, electrical components, lamps and tubes. Wolseley is able to source these M&E products through its established supply chain and range of businesses, including Plumb Center, Pipe Center, Drain Center and Electric Center.

As well as its stock availability and product range, being able to demonstrate a commitment to the environment and sustainability was also influential in this successful outcome. This includes Electric Center’s compliance with WEEE (waste, electrical equipment) Regulations, and helping its customers to ensure all lamps covered by this legislation are properly disposed of by offering a free recycling service for qualifying ‘end of life’ lamps.

Rob Marchbank, CEO Europe and Managing Director Wolseley UK, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in this tender. With our established supply chain, breadth and depth of products and experience in the healthcare sector, we are well placed to respond effectively to the product and services needs of any refurbishment or new build project within the NHS.”

Rachael Farmer, NHS PASA Category Specialist added: “The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency framework is an important procurement tool and enables us to achieve cost efficiencies and work with a shortlist of preferred and experienced suppliers.”

Wolseley was a winner of the Suppliers Creating Sustainable Communities Award at the 2008 LGC & HSJ Awards, beating off competition from other suppliers to the NHS. 

Representatives from the NHS are also among the 5,000-plus visitors to Wolseley’s Sustainable Building Center since its official opening in June 2008. The £3.2m building is a UK-first and showcases the latest sustainable products and renewable technologies.

If your healthcare estate would like a Wolseley representative to visit or you would like to visit the Wolseley Sustainable Building Center then email contact@wolseley.co.uk and we will arrange it for you.

The specialist ironmongery business, part of the Wolseley group, provided various products including door handles, closers, hinges, magnetic locks and a comprehensive master keying system throughout the healthcare complex, which is one of the largest new hospitals in Europe.

Due to open in summer 2009, the Oxford Road site, owned by the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with their partners Catalyst Health Care (Manchester) Ltd, will include a purpose-built children’s hospital, along with a dedicated women’s hospital, adult hospital and eye hospital.

Dryad’s John Royle said:

“We worked closely with our customer Bovis Lend Lease in the product specification for this highly prestigious development. The architectural ironmongery had to meet the varying needs of the different groups of patients who will be using the hospital and comply with relevant legislation, for example BS8300 and Approved Document M, both of which relate to the Disability Discrimination Act, and Building Regulations which relates to the design of buildings that meet the needs of disabled people.

 “We have highly experienced staff, many of which are registered with the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, who are able to specify the most suitable product for the given application, with the backing of Wolseley’s efficient and established worldwide supply chain.”

Mark Buckle, Bovis Lend Lease projects director, added:

“We have worked successfully with Dryad Architectural Ironmongery on various large scale projects in the past. Ironmongery specifications for hospitals can be challenging due to the stringent legislation in place and the vulnerability of some of the patient groups using the facilities, so it was imperative to work with experienced and well informed suppliers.”

Dryad Architectural Ironmongery is one of the UK’s leading brands of architectural ironmongery and is exclusively available nationwide from Wolseley through its specialist architectural ironmongery branches.

The Dryad Architectural Ironmongery catalogue is one of the most comprehensive in the industry and has recently been launched in an interactive DVD format. It can also be downloaded from http://dryad.wolseleyliterature.co.uk/

The award recognises the breadth of Wolseley’s activity in the field of sustainability. This ranges from recycling packaging to the building of the Wolseley Sustainable Building Center, which will act as a showcase for sustainable construction materials and techniques.