Southmead’s Sustainability – what makes the new Southmead Hospital the
greenest of its size in the UK?
Construction phase:
 April 2012: 99% of waste has been reused or recycled
 30% of the building is recycled content for example in the plasterboard or structural seals

Converting from landfill – percentage of materials are not going to landfill, they are being
put to other uses. For example rubble, steel and metal is recycled and reused.

Making use of pre-fabricated products that are made off-site and brought in already
constructed – minimises wastage and improves quality through being made in a factory
(more efficient).

Natural renewable materials: Natural stone in the cladding, wood in the stair towers and
floor linoleum made out of natural oils like solidified Linseed oil, woodflower and ground
cork dust. Also the atrium floor and the sanctuary is made out of porcelain/clay.
New hospital building
On completion it is hoped the building will have an excellent Breeam rating – the highest mark
of quality.
External grounds:
 Green roofs support ecology and biodiversity
 Rainwater harvesting collects rain filters and pushes rainwater into a pump which
supports water features.
 Car park paving collects rain water in ducts that is then filtered into ponds in a staff
conservation area providing sustainable urban drainage.
 700 trees are being planted – some of them 6m high.
 Aerobic digester composter to turn food wastage into compost to feed the gardens.
Energy:
 Wind towers take air from outside and pull it down into the Atrium to cool it.
 Power: Per 100 cubic metres the new hospital will use half the power we currently use.
(But as it is a bigger site the usage is the same on a metre by metre basis). Reducing
energy bills by half of what it would have cost if we kept the same approach as we have
currently.
 20% of energy is from a renewable source – biofuel will be used. This is locally grown
trees turned into pellets of chips and burnt for fuel. Then they are replanted.
 Building designed to be future proofed: For example a combined heat and power for the
future to reuse wastage in other parts as energy. Also the roofing system can have solar
panels in the future so as solar power becomes cheaper we can adapt.
Inside:
 Extra insulation. Thermostat controls in each single room.
 Eastward facing wards take the warming sun in the morning but face away from the
overheating sun in the afternoon. This reduces the amount of energy needed to cool the
rooms.
 The hospital has been designed to make use of plenty of natural daylight. Some areas
will have smart control to switch the lights off when they are not needed.
 Wards are heated by radiant heat panels installed on the ceiling for more efficient
heating.
Local materials and the local economy
In April 2012 – 83% of people working on the new hospital live within 30 miles.
60% of materials by value are from Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Some examples of local companies:
 Reconstructed stone cladding from Marble Mosaics, Weston Super Mare
 The shower room pods are made by Offsite Solutions from Highbridge, Somerset
 BR Hodgson group from Wick, South Glos.
 Pennant stone used in the lower floors from Forest Pennants, Forest of Dean.
Business Action on the Homeless – homeless people, living in hostel accommodation given
one to two weeks work experience on site working with ‘buddies’ to give them experience and
confidence. One lady has secured a full time, permanent job through this.
Job Shop – ‘Sky Blue’ Carillion’s on site job centre.
Promotional opportunities
Media
National
 The Guardian Healthcare - feature on green credentials
 National BBC: Pitch to BBC health corr Jane Hughes – what can she film?
Local
 Feature with Bristol Post on going green
 Local ITV West Country - What can they film?
 General press release on local job and economy commitments
Social media
 Promote as above.
 #BristolsGreenHospital week on Twitter – tweeting facts and figures of above
 Post artist latest impressions/images on Facebook
 Feed through to webage
Website
 Update – any new images or artist impressions of the above features?