Tool application

Name of the tool
NHS Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT)

Who applied the tool in the case?
NHS

Time taken to fully apply the tool
Not specified

Any other interesting information about the tool

NEAT is part of a package of measures to enable the NHS to understand, identify andimportantly take action to reduce and limit negative impacts on the environment. Other tools produced by NHS Estates that work complementary to NEAT are:
• New Environmental Strategy for the NHS
• Guidance Document Sustainable Development in the NHS
• ERIC - Estates returns information collection performance mgt system
• Controls Assurance
• Achieving Excellent Design Evaluation Tool
• ProCure 21 capital development procurement process
• Estatecode

"Primary Care Trusts and Leadership in Sustainbility", Maru, Northumbria University, Sustainable Development Commission, nhsalliance
(http://www.nhsestates.gov.uk/download/sustainable_development/PCTandleadershipinsustainability.pdf)
"Obtaining an 'excellent' Neat rating is already a condition for business-case approval for new built projects, and online NEAT returns to NHS estates are required for existing facilities.
...Bidders will normally be able to incorporate an 'excellent' NEAT score ae minimal cost, where the PCT has been explicit aboutit in specification. Where NEAT is absent from the specification, and is merely a sustinable aspiartion, it can be safely ignored and bidders revert to their standard specification.
One clear advantage of NEAT, is that it covers a broad spectrum of sustainable development issues. In addition to energy and water saving and the management of waste, NEAT also includes management, transport, materials, land use, internal environment, pollution and to an extent, social issues. NEAT doesn't assess all possible impacts and should not prevent PCT from developing their own, broader criteria for sustainable development, but it is relatively inexpensive and quick to undertake, and it is a good starting point for promoting sustainable development. It can assist PCTs and their design teams in reducing environmental impacts and benchmarking across a property portfolio and it allows easy demonstration of best practice."

PCTs = Primary Care Trusts

Case study/ies where tool is in use