KOOWEERUP Regional Health Services has installed solar panels to reduce their carbon footprint on
The government provided about $87,000 worth of funding for the $150,000 project.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Terrona Ramsay said they installed the solar panels for both environmental and financial benefits.
“We wanted to be more environmentally responsible and to save money where we can,” she said.
Ms Ramsay said the panels had only been functional for about two months, so figures on the savings were not yet available.
“However we ran a trial, prior to their installation, with a smaller version and it was very effective,” she said.
Ms Ramsay said hot water is a big necessity at the hospital and is used in all areas including the laundry, for patient and resident showers and in the kitchen.
The hospital has two large water tanks which require gas to heat it to the appropriate temperature. Ms Ramsay said the installation of the solar panels will help cut the costs and environmental impact of this process.
It is government policy that all hospitals take responsibility in relation to their environmental footprint.
The Kooweerup hospital has formed a committee to look at new ways in the future of improving their environmental sustainability.
“We have changed over all lighting with those more energy efficient, all shower heads and been replaced with water saving ones and we are putting in a lot a water tanks,” she said.
“We are attending the Green Hospitals Conference this year, and are hoping to bring new initiatives away from that.”
“We are also lobbying with the community to try and get natural gas into the town,” she said.
– Bridget Cook
