Sustainability 03 June 2022

Celebrating World Environment Day 2022

World Environment Day is an annual awareness campaign held on 5 June. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme, this year’s theme is #OnlyOneEarth, recognising that with only one earth, we all need to take care of it.

Health, wellbeing and a healthy environment

There are clear linkages between the health and wellbeing of Victorians and a healthy environment. While public hospitals and health services contribute a fifth of the Victorian Government’s energy related carbon emissions, we are making significant progress in reducing environmental impacts.

Since 2005, public hospitals and health services:

have reduced water used by approximately 570 million litres
are using 18 per cent less energy per square metre of hospital floor space
are emitting, on average, 9 per cent less carbon per square metre of hospital floor space.

In 2017, the Victorian Government set a target for Victoria to be net carbon zero by 2050. By including energy efficiency features in our hospital and healthcare buildings, we can help meet this goal.

We spoke to Julian Freeland, Senior Project Officer, Environmental Sustainability at the Victorian Health Building Authority about the steps we are taking to reduce the environmental impacts of hospitals and healthcare facilities.

We are shifting towards fully electric hospitals. What does fully electric mean?

‘All-electric hospitals are buildings that don’t use any gas for their heating or sterilisation equipment, meaning they are powered entirely by electricity. Where possible to do so, moving to all-electric buildings would support the 2050 net zero carbon target, although it will take some steps to get there.

The adoption of all-electric healthcare facilities presents the opportunity to reduce the emissions profile of public hospitals when the Victorian Government procures renewable electricity for government operations beginning in 2025.

A positive step towards this target is the Victorian Government’s more than $900 million investment to deliver the new Melton Hospital which will hold the mantle as the state’s first hospital to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.’

How is this good for the environment?

‘While we can’t get around the fact hospitals will always use a lot of resources and generate large volumes of waste, there are design solutions available to help us create a more environmentally sustainable health system.

When we design our hospitals and healthcare buildings to be more environmentally sustainable, the benefits aren’t just to the environment. Sustainable design may lower environmental impacts and operating costs, but it also goes further by creating healthier, healing environments for patients, visitors and staff.

Another benefit of a no emissions health care facility is reduced air pollution. The energy used does not create air emissions and that means less air pollution, a great win.’

Aerial view of a courtyard filled with greenery at Bendigo Hospital

A green space at Bendigo Hospital

How are green facilities good for patients, visitors and staff?

‘People's surrounds help them recover faster which is better for their wellbeing and the people caring for them. A healthy building doesn’t need as much energy, meaning patients recover faster, placing less strain on the health system by not having people in hospital for as long.

We're doing this by using cleaner products internally, such as softer palettes and natural timber finishes, and features such as double-glazed windows assist with temperature control. Looking at nature and greenery makes people feel better, so we have also introduced indoor and outdoor sensory gardens into our facilities.’

How have we traditionally used electricity in hospitals we have built?

‘Hospitals and health care facilities traditionally use a mix of electricity and natural gas for heating, cooling and delivery of health outcomes. Both sources of energy have emissions associated with their use that contribute to climate change.

Making a switch to all-electric hospitals and health facilities will reduce emissions once the renewable electricity contract (supply) begins in 2025.’

Solar panels on the roof of Latrobe Regional Hospital

In the meantime, how can we make hospitals and healthcare facilities more energy-efficient?

‘A great way to make hospitals more energy-efficient is to harness energy from the sun. Solar panels can help lower energy bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions, making the running of public hospitals greener.

The Victorian Health Building Authority has committed to a target of delivering five per cent of the public health system’s electricity from solar energy. We’re achieving this by installing large collections of solar panels on top of hospital roofs, known as solar arrays.

In addition, for all new hospitals being built in Victoria, 60 per cent of the roof space is being designed for solar panels. This involves several design considerations including roof spaces that face the right direction for maximum exposure to the sun.’

Learn more about our sustainability projects via our dedicated page.