NEAT – NHS Environmental Assessment Tool
NEAT aims to help raise the awareness of the impacts that the NHS facilities and services can have on the environment and also to estimate the level of environmental impact taking place. It has been developed as an Excel based assessment tool, to allow NHS staff to carry out assessments without the need to call in an independent, specialist assessor from outside of the NHS.
NEAT was produced as a result of a Government Construction Client Panel requirements detailed in the Sustainable Construction Action Plan. This places a requirement on all Government Departments that new builds and refurbishments are required to be sustainable constructed. As part of this process, new builds will require a NEAT score rating of 'excellent' with refurbishments a score rating of 'very good'.
NEAT is a software-based system that allows health trusts and NHS Estates to manage the environmental impact of both the procurement and operation of their buildings.
In addition to the standard BREEAM assessment categories - management, energy use, health and well-being, pollution, transport, land use, ecology, materials and water.
Ambient have experience of advising on NEAT assessments. Please see the BRE Healthcare website or contact us for more details.