Retrofit of Heat Exchangers to Dialysis Machines - NuT NHSFT

The project was shortlisted for the Green Nephrology Awards 2012. The PDF award entry poster may be downloaded from here.

Key learning point:  Electricity energy saving in patients homes – with both environmental and financial benefits.

Setting/Patient Group: Home dialysis patients

Issue to be addressed:  

The colder incoming water in patients' homes in winter, as compared with the water temperature in the dialysis centre, results in increased power consumption overall and greater energy savings from inclusion of the heat exchanger.

Intervention:

Heat exchangers have been retrofitted to all 21 BBraun Dialog+ Dialysis Machines for patients on home haemodialysis.

Outcomes:

Social

• Lower burden of worry about utility bills for patients.

Environmental

• Estimated annual savings 1,207 tonnesCO₂e, likely to increase in winter with lower water temperatures in patients' homes.

Economic

• Initial investment for retrofit per machine £223.70
• Estimated annual saving £327.60/year from reduced electricity bills (likely to increase in winter)