First hospital to go green will save €40,000 a year

THE country’s first hospital to switch to renewable energy heating will reduce its carbon footprint by 800 tonnes — saving €40,000 a year.

St Columba’s in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, is to change from oil-based fuel to biomass firing.

Renewable local wood chips will be used in the boiler and will displace most of the oil used for heating.