Barchester Healthcare is stepping up its investment in green technologies in 2024 with plans to spend £2.2 million on installing solar panels at 37 care homes.

The move follows a total investment of £1.9 million in upgrading 13 plantrooms, installing energy-efficient LED lighting in 56 homes and installing 3,672 solar panels provided by EES Group at 18 homes in 2023.

Joe Rippon, energy and environment manager for Barchester Healthcare, said: “It’s exciting to see all of the changes taking effect in our homes and the massive benefits to our energy efficiency each change brings.  This year we are rolling out an estimated 4,767 solar panels across the estate which we help us to offset the equivalent carbon dioxide emissions as planting over 17,000 trees.  It feels good to know we are helping the planet as well as creating comfortable, homely environments for our residents.”

CEO, Paul Daly at EES Group, said: “We are proud to be in partnership with Barchester providing energy solutions that will help build a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future for their care homes.”

Barchester Healthcare’s chief executive, Dr Pete Calveley, added: “Our commitment to making our homes as green as possible continues to be a major focus in 2024.  All of our new build properties are designed with energy efficiency top of mind and have green technologies fitted as standard from LED lighting to monitored water systems and solar powered heating and cooling systems.  We are also working hard to upgrade our main estate properties with greener technologies as part of our extensive ongoing refurbishment programme.”