Decarbonising healthcare estates: Why smart energy management is now essential infrastructure

By Kevin Gilhooly, Interim Healthcare Solutions Lead, MRI Software.

With the deadline for updated NHS Green Plans now behind us, the focus for estates leaders has shifted decisively from planning to proving. For those tasked with managing healthcare estates, the question is no longer “what will we do?” but “how are we delivering on our commitments?”

In this new phase, smart energy management systems (EMS) are now taking centre stage. No longer relegated to back-office reporting, they are fast becoming foundational infrastructure, empowering compliance, unlocking capital investment, and delivering real-time insights that drive performance across the estate.

From ambition to execution

Following the submission of revised Green Plans by NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards in July, attention now turns to implementation. Funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) remains an opportunity but it is increasingly reserved for those who can demonstrate measurable, data-led progress.

For facilities and estates leaders, this means moving beyond aspiration. It requires granular visibility into where energy is consumed, wasted, or saved, and the ability to act on that insight quickly and confidently.

Energy Data: The catalyst for decarbonisation

In a sector where legacy infrastructure and competing priorities often hinder action, energy data can be seen as an enabler. But too often, that data is incomplete, disjointed, or locked behind manual processes.

Smart EMS platforms can resolve this by consolidating data from across the estate, using meters, utility bills, IoT sensors, into a single, accessible system. From there, facilities teams can detect anomalies, respond to inefficiencies, and model the long-term impact of different interventions. It’s the shift from reactive to predictive, and can change everything.

Strategic gains from smart investment

One NHS Trust recently implemented an EMS to centralise its energy reporting. Before this, the team struggled with fragmented data, poor forecasting, and limited board-level visibility.

Post-implementation, the Trust gained real-time alerts for consumption spikes, automated reporting, and the ability to map energy performance against NHS net zero milestones. This led to the identification of more than £100,000 in projected savings, strengthened the business case for capital investment, and aligned procurement planning with decarbonisation goals.

Just as importantly, the platform provided leadership with a clear view of progress, an essential asset in today’s high-accountability environment.

Energy management as Strategic Infrastructure

Smart EMS is no longer a tool for energy efficiency alone, it’s a driver of broader estate strategy. By linking energy performance with asset data, Trusts can prioritise retrofits, optimise maintenance schedules, and improve the ROI of planned works.

Scenario modelling allows healthcare trusts to assess future funding bids, negotiate supplier contracts more effectively, and quantify the impact of estate upgrades. With budgets tight and scrutiny high, this level of intelligence is critical.

Supporting clinical outcomes with IOT

The value of EMS extends into clinical domains too. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and airflow, directly influence patient safety and recovery, particularly in high-dependency areas.

EMS platforms integrated with IoT technology allow for real-time monitoring of these zones. Early alerts for overheating, refrigeration failures, or HVAC issues reduce clinical risk and help maintain compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.

Enabling broader visibility

With the shift toward Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), there’s a growing need for estate-wide visibility. Smart platforms enable performance tracking across multiple sites and regions paving the way for shared procurement, regional benchmarking, and collaborative investment strategies.

High-performing sites can be identified and replicated, while data-driven business cases improve access to central funding. The ability to speak the same language across Trusts is a powerful enabler of long-term progress.

Looking ahead

With Green Plans submitted and expectations rising, the healthcare sector is entering a new era of accountability. Trusts that act now to embed smart EMS will be best positioned to meet their climate commitments, control costs, and enhance estate resilience.

For estates and facilities leaders, the message is clear: decarbonisation isn’t a future goal, it’s a necessary requirement that needs to be met today. And data-driven infrastructure is the first step to getting there.