Our sustainable building
Our building supports our vision of providing a sense of calm and relaxation for patients and staff alike. It has been built, mindful of the patient experience, to maximise natural light and reduce our impact on the environment. Sustainability is important to us – in looking after our patients, caring for the environment and in our role as guardians for NHS resources – we want to see NHS funding spent where it provides the best health outcomes for all.
Clean energy
- Solar panels cover the roof
- Heating and hot water is provided by a biomass boiler giving us as near to carbon neutral energy as we could achieve.
Comfortable
- The windows are as large as possible to maximum natural sunlight therefore cutting down on electricity and heating. We have no air conditioning but a natural ventilation system to constantly cool the building and refresh the environment. We have sun pipes to further enhance natural lighting.
- The heating is an underfloor system giving a uniform constant temperature throughout the building.
Beautiful
Our health centre in Springtime
- The grass roof ensures that we blend in with our environment and is a sustainable roof design.
- The building is carefully landscaped with planting and a wildflower meadow.
- We have sculptural area planted up with medicinal plants – the herb lady of herstmonceux
- Wood clad walls will attract insects and birds and bat boxes. The green roof and brown roofs are also havens for wildlife.
Recycling
- All our paper, glass, cardboard and plastic is recycled wherever possible.
- Paper light surgery – In 2013 we achieved paper light status which means we no longer store reams of paperwork all our information is securely stored electronically
- Staff room furniture, filing cabinets, office chairs and lockers are recycled furniture from the 2012 Olympics and Para Olympics.
- Sewage is treated in a Klargester biodigester with clean water as a byproduct and rain water is collected in the swale making a beautiful pond feature for wildlife.
