Barwon Health - Energy performance contract

Energy upgrades are occurring at 22 Barwon Health sites including University Hospital Geelong, McKellar Centre, Alan David Lodge, Barwon Health North and Community Health Centres at Newcomb, Anglesea, Corio, Belmont and Torquay.

The upgrades include:

• mechanical plant optimisation to improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems
• replacing more than 7,000 lights with high-efficiency LEDs lights at 16 sites
• installing 1,300 kilowatt-peak of solar at 16 sites
• improved building controls to improve plant operation and user comfort.

What is an energy performance contract?

An energy performance contract (EPC) is a process where a contractor is engaged to design, implement, verify and guarantee the savings from an energy project. This method of delivering energy upgrades to buildings is considered low risk and is widely used.

The Barwon Health energy performance contract aims to deliver the following benefits:

Better for the environment

Hospitals and health services are one of the highest users of energy and water in Government. Infrastructure upgrades through energy performance contracts help facilities reduce their energy consumption, providing benefits to the environment.

Reducing energy consumption

Barwon Health’s energy performance contract will reduce energy consumption across their facilities. Once fully implemented, the project is reducing:

• electricity by 16 per cent – a saving of 3,500 gigawatt-hours a year
• gas usage by 5 per cent – a saving of 11,200 gigajoules a year.

The energy upgrades will reduce Barwon Health’s spending on utilities by around 20 per cent a year – an annual saving of $1.46 million.

Reducing the impact of climate change

Climate change is effecting the health and wellbeing of Victorians. By making infrastructure more energy-efficient, the project is helping reduce Victoria’s carbon emissions.

Improved patient and staff experience

Upgrading energy infrastructure will improve staff and patient experiences making it easier to provide best care to patients.

This project is being facilitated by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

• Barwon Health
• FG Advisory
• Department of Treasury and Finance
• Department of Transport and Planning.