Sustainability is key for LVS as it shortly opens London’s newest, and biggest, animal referral centre (artist's impression)
Sustainability Built Into Brand New London Animal Hospital
3 months ago 
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London’s newest and biggest animal referral centre is showing its commitment to sustainability with a range of eco-friendly initiatives and plans.
Linnaeus-owned London Vet Specialists (LVS) will soon be opening the doors to its 12,000 sq ft state-of-the-art animal hospital in Hammersmith which will provide cutting-edge veterinary facilities, plus the very latest in eco-friendly advances.
A focus on sustainability can be found throughout the building’s materials, including vinyl flooring which is made from 25 per cent to 39.5 per cent recycled materials, plus ceiling tiles that are manufactured from fully recyclable stone wool.
Meanwhile, worktops are made from reused yoghurt pots and the worktops, vinyl flooring and ceiling tiles can all be fully recycled at end of life.
The acoustic paneling is made from FSC® certified sustainably sourced wood, which is carefully graded for its consistency and character, while the acoustic felt is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
The whole building is designed to maximise natural light intake through window, door and light well positions, and there is high efficiency LED lighting throughout together with PIR systems to avoid lights being left on when not required.
Other sustainability measures include ventilation on a zone-by-zone basis, high efficiency heat recovery units achieving at least 75 per cent heat recovery. Additionally, all ventilation systems around the building utilise 100 per cent fresh air supplies.
Furthermore, air source heat pumps are used for heating, cooling and domestic hot water, and the hot water supply is on a trace heat system instead of secondary return which means hot water does not need to be continuously pumped round the building.
The animal hospital also has a new low-helium 1.5T BlueSeal Philips MRI scanner. The magnet technology requires only seven litres of helium compared to 1,700 litres for a conventional magnet. This is important as Helium is a scarce, non-renewable and non-recoverable natural resource, so using a low-helium system helps to preserve it.
The site has an access layout which promotes staff and clients to travel by foot, bike or public transport, but LVS also has plans to introduce EV charging stations for those who are driving.
Additionally, the new animal hospital has a biophilic design with several living green walls situated in waiting rooms and colleague facilities.
A biophilic design, which uses nature within the built environment, can help improve air quality and the overall work experience, among other areas.
Away from physical measures, LVS has a monthly green team meeting to evaluate any environmental impact and look at ways to improve.
Emma Laws, hospital director at LVS, which is currently situated in Belsize Park, said: “We aim to achieve the Investors in the Environment accreditation at our new referral centre in Hammersmith, which will help us to improve our environmental policies and systems, and upskill our staff on sustainability.”
The impressive new purpose-built hospital, contains nine consult rooms, a surgical suite containing three surgical theatres, a separate intensive care ward and an isolation ward.
Among the raft of services available at the new centre are diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, neurology, anaesthesia, dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, oncology, soft tissue surgery, orthopaedics and emergency and critical care, with renowned specialists combining to offer industry-leading treatment.
LVS is a multidisciplinary veterinary referral facility which offers expert care in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, neurology, oncology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, ophthalmology and soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery.
For more information about London Vet Specialists, and the services it offers, visit https://londonvetspecialists.vet/ or follow @londonvetspecialists on Instagram.
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