Mitsubishi Electric: Sustainable Cooling Units for Hospice
A hospice in Cheshire has installed energy-efficient air conditioning units as part of a plan to cut its carbon footprint while maintaining standards of patient care.
East Cheshire Hospice relies on donations for almost 80% of its funding and must balance operational costs with care delivery.
Mitsubishi Electric has provided six MSZ-RZ wall-mounted air conditioning units to the facility. The installation is part of a wider extension and refurbishment project that includes a review of heating and cooling across the hospice estate.
Balancing cost and comfort
The hospice aims to embed sustainability into its operations without compromising patient wellbeing. This includes work to minimise waste, cut energy usage and reduce carbon emissions.
Michelle Walker-Brown, Head of Facilities and Hospitality at East Cheshire Hospice, says: "When we were looking at the options, we were offered the MSZ-RZ units, which offer heating and cooling and fit our need for sustainability."
Michelle adds: "At the same time, the hospice is reliant on charitable donations, so managing energy costs is something we monitor very closely and these air conditioning units have automatic features to help us avoid waste."
The hospice provides care in what it describes as a warm and welcoming environment. Michelle says: "We pride ourselves on delivering compassionate care in a warm and welcoming place where everyone is treated with dignity, kindness and respect."
Technology for temperature control
The six units provide heating and cooling to help maintain comfortable conditions for patients, families and staff throughout the year. Each unit has 3D i-See sensors that allow for monitoring of room occupancy and optimising temperature distribution and airflow.
The i-See sensors can shut the system down when a room is unoccupied. This could help minimise running costs and avoid waste.
The air conditioning units use Mitsubishi Electric's Plasma Quad Plus filtration technology, which is designed to remove bacteria, allergens and PM2.5 particulates. The system also neutralises viruses.
This could help maintain indoor air quality for patients at the hospice.
Brett Hewitt, Director of Hewitt's Refrigeration, oversaw the installation. Brett says: "I've been fully supported with Mitsubishi Electric training as these new units use R290 refrigerant, which is still quite new to the industry."
The company installed the units in a few days. Brett says: "We managed to install everything in a few days and worked around vacant rooms and the hospice's guests so we could keep disruption to an absolute minimum."
Net zero target
East Cheshire Hospice has committed to achieving net zero by 2032. The charity aims to inspire other organisations in the local health and social care system to become more environmentally sustainable.
The hospice operates five retail outlets that raise funds while saving unwanted items from landfill. Staff aim to reduce food waste through smart ordering and menus.
Used vegetable oil from the hospice is collected and recycled to make biodiesel. The facility also recycles used batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges and IT hardware.
Used tea bags and ground fresh coffee beans are recycled for the hospice's rose trees and shrubbery. East Cheshire Hospice is a member of Hospice UK's Environmental Sustainability for Hospices Group, where it keeps in contact with other hospices to share best practices and information about sustainability initiatives.
