Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre Hospital celebrates milestone: 12,000 windows replaced

The Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) was founded in the 1970s and whilst the building itself has seen some significant upgrades, most of the windows have never been replaced. 

The scheme has seen around 12,000 windows at the QMC replaced with new double-glazing, resulting in a much more energy efficient building and a better environment for patients, staff and visitors. One of the biggest challenges for the project team has been to undertake the window replacement in an acute hospital setting.

Richard Spencer, Construction Director at E.ON, said: “Undertaking a project within a live hospital environment presents many challenges and the completed replacement of the 12,000 windows on site is a huge accomplishment. The new double-glazed windows will significantly improve energy efficiency by reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter

“This is part of our project to help the hospital achieve net zero, continuing with constructing energy centres that use high-efficiency hybrid heat pumps for heating and cooling. This project shows how sustainable energy solutions can help to drive environmental progress and improve operational efficiency whilst directly benefiting those that work, visit and stay at the hospital.”

Funded by Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which was initiated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the project took two years to complete. It is part of a 15-year energy efficiency programme being progressed across Nottingham University Hospital’s (NUH) sites in partnership with E.ON, that aims to cut CO₂ emissions by around 10,000 tonnes a year – the equivalent of taking more than 2,200 cars off the road.

Mike Soroka, QMC’s Head of Estates, said: “The QMC is a very busy site. In order for us to reduce the impact of replacing windows on wards filled with patients, we had to create temporary spaces so we could move beds around. We couldn’t have done this without a lot of engagement and collaboration with our staff.”

“Previously, the hospital was draughty and noisy as parts of the site back onto a very busy main road (A52).  The new windows have made it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, meaning it provides a much better environment all year round.  It will also save money and will be a key contributor towards our ambition to be net zero by 2040.  

“We are using cutting edge renewable geothermal heating and cooling technology which is important for NUH’s contribution and commitment to environmental sustainability. E.ON has helped us improve what we’re trying to achieve. They had a lot of input into the design process and we’re putting their extensive expertise in decarbonisation schemes to good use.”    

Jo Harvey, Interim Head of Nursing and Professions, agrees. She said: “The new windows have improved the aesthetics and reduced the amount of noise from outside, which makes for a much quieter environment for our patients. We have certainly noticed the difference in the winter, when our wards were much warmer.”

In addition to the window replacement, the E,ON has been working on a £15 million energy centre, providing low carbon heating and cooling to the hospital site.