As the NHS charts its bold course toward becoming the world's first net zero national health service by 2040, the proverbial operating theatre spotlight is shining firmly on aspects of healthcare building and estate management that will help accelerate progress on sustainability and patient care.

Hospital and healthcare management teams find themselves at the forefront of one of the most significant transformations in public sector history. Aspects such as clinical innovation or digital integration may have once dominated strategic conversations in the boardroom, but with studies showing healthcare facilities consume up to two-and-a-half times more energy than typical commercial buildings, management teams are increasingly investing in proactive energy strategies that can unlock costs, carbon reductions and capacity savings. And it's making for an encouraging prognosis on the path to net zero. 

Granted, energy might not be visible within patient charts, but it powers every element of care. From the constant uninterrupted supply required to run intensive care units, surgical theatres, ventilation systems and machinery to ensuring operational resilience through efficiencies and cost savings that can be reinvested into frontline services. 

What was once a back-office consideration has transitioned to become a critical commodity in the future of healthcare delivery and forward-looking institutions are recognising energy strategy as a strategic lever for both risk management and sustainability delivery. 

For non-clinical leaders, having a comprehensive energy strategy is now essential for future-proofing healthcare operations. Because an energy strategy actually isn't just about sustainability; it's about stability and service continuity. 

Turning this vision for the NHS into reality means acting now. And while the challenge can initially feel insurmountable, given aspects such as complex NHS supply chains, estates and infrastructure considerations and policy and funding pressures, leading examples are already showing the way.

One of the clearest demonstrations of what is possible comes from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is currently completing the NHS's first carbon-neutral clinical facility: the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC). The NRC shows how thoughtful energy planning, embedded from the start, can reduce costs and carbon, and ensure clinical performance isn't compromised. We know that healthcare facilities are highly energy-dependent, operating 24/7 with varying building needs. With the current volatility in the energy market, energy strategy delivers enhanced resilience by improving efficiencies, enabling better control over demand and integrating on-site generation to support energy independence. 

Energy costs within the NHS have more than doubled since 2019, with the estimated annual energy bill landing at around £1.4bn currently. A proactive energy strategy determines how to ‘buy better and use less' – through a variety of procurement models tailored to requirement, and by cutting energy waste through products like real-time intelligent metering which can identify anomalies or inefficient equipment – particularly important for ageing infrastructure. Without a plan, healthcare facilities risk being at the mercy of market fluctuations and inefficiencies. 

The NHS's Greener NHS programme requires every NHS trust to publish and act on a Green Plan. An energy strategy is the backbone of any credible plan - linking technical upgrades to emission reductions, funding eligibility and regulatory compliance.

More than a document, an energy strategy enables management teams to prioritise actions, set measurable targets and demonstrate accountability, showing leadership on climate action both internally and to the communities they serve.

Many NHS facilities were not designed with energy efficiency in mind and outdated infrastructure creates avoidable costs and operational limitations. An energy strategy offers a clear roadmap for estate improvement, helping prioritise high-impact upgrades like LED lighting, insulation and heating system modernisation, and to plan for low-carbon technologies that align with sustainability goals.

Hospital and healthcare management teams have a unique opportunity and responsibility to embed energy thinking into broader operational strategy. Whether it's through investment decisions, estate planning, procurement, or risk management, energy should now be viewed as a strategic priority.

Recommendations on what teams can do now include: auditing current usage and systems to build a clear baseline for consumption and reduction; developing an energy strategy aligned with trust-wide Green Plans; engaging expert partners to support delivery; and championing energy literacy across estates, finance, and executive teams. The NHS has made a powerful commitment to the future and having energy strategy as a central part of delivering that commitment can ensure a more prosperous environment - for healthcare delivery - and for the planet.