The Scottish government is spending £24 million on making NHS hospitals and facilities more energy efficient.
The carbon reduction programme grant is being made available to NHS boards for energy saving schemes over the next three years. Projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gases across NHS Scotland by around 10 percent and to save around £4 million in energy costs each year. The money will be directly reinvested in front line patient care.
Projects already given funding include the installation of a biomass boiler at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, converting the heating system at Gartnavel Royal Hospital from oil to gas, and the installation of wind turbines to support remote health centres in the Shetland Islands (pictured).
Scottish health secretary Alex Neil said: “This money will play a key role in helping to make the NHS more energy efficient, and in reducing our carbon footprint.
The Scottish government has also announced a £45 million funding package for new homes. The investment is expected to deliver 1,200 new council, housing association and private sector homes.