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Wangaratta Private Hospital is banking on the power of the sun to help reduce its environmental footprint – and significantly cut costs.
The 43-bed facility in rural Victoria now boasts a 100-kilowatt solar panel system on its roof, which will generate 15 percent of the hospital's electricity use and save more than 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifespan.
CEO Trevor Matheson said the solar switch was part of a commitment to hospital owner Ramsay Health Care Australia's sustainability pledge.
"We are really excited to be making this important switch to solar because, as a Ramsay hospital, we acknowledge that climate change is a critical issue and we're focused on cutting our energy and water use and increasing our sustainability initiatives," Mr Matheson said.
"Saving 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions is the equivalent of taking 55 cars off the road – and that's a lot of cars!"
Wangaratta Private Hospital is also switching its lights to energy-efficient LED bulbs.
It no longer uses plastic water bottles and is replacing single-use plastic items, such as disposable cutlery, with recyclable alternatives.
"The switch to solar is not only great for the environment, it's also great for our bottom line and we'll be saving approximately $17,000 every year in electricity costs," Mr Matheson added.
"Furthermore, this system will pay for itself in around four years."
Wangaratta has a growing reputation for renewable energy – a 30-megawatt solar farm is being developed just outside the north-east Victorian city.
"Installing solar panels on a building like Wangaratta Private is a great investment, not just for the hospital itself but for our future. It will help generations to come," said Dr Helen Haines, Federal MP for the local Indi electorate.
"We are fast becoming a leader in embracing renewables and this is just another reason why the rest of Australia is looking to Indi as an example of just what can be achieved with renewables."
The 'Ramsay Cares' sustainability program has led to significant reductions across the group – in the past financial year, Australia's largest private healthcare provider has recycled 7.8 tonnes of e-waste such as PCs, monitors, printers, power supplies and network equipment.
"To put that into perspective, it's about the same weight as two hippos or four giraffes – which is an extraordinary effort," Ramsay IT Project Manager Frank Lin said.
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