Peninsula Health has installed two new solar panel systems at its dedicated geriatric and rehabilitation facilities, The Mornington Centre and Golf Links Road Rehabilitation Centre, to cut energy use and reduce carbon emissions.
Funded by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the new 99.75 kilowatt systems will allow Peninsula Health to generate 230,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, and will save 206 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
“The installation of these solar systems is a great sustainability initiative,” says Senior Project Manager, Trent Wreford. “It will reduce Peninsula Health’s carbon footprint quite substantially for the next 25 years.”
Officially switched on in March, the new solar systems have begun transforming sunlight into useable electrical energy and are now powering each facility.
“Solar energy is a renewable source of power,” says Trent. “By taking this step forward, we will reduce our carbon emissions and help mitigate the driving forces of climate change, which is critical to protecting us and the environment.”
“Environmental sustainability and being able to minimise your carbon footprint is something we can all try and do a little bit better,” adds Trent.
Peninsula Health’s Sustainability Manager Rachel Ulbrick says she looks forward to seeing the positive impacts that will come from the installation of current and future solar panel systems.
“Solar power allows Peninsula Health to reduce its reliance on the grid,’ says Rachel. “It will also help stabilise the grid during periods of peak use which overall reduces the risk of power outages.”
“By using renewable energy, we can ensure Peninsula Health reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps Victoria reach its net zero target by 2050,” she adds. The solar panel system is just one practical step Peninsula Health has taken to improve its environmental sustainability this year, with the health service also utilising energy efficient lights, set to save additional carbon emissions per year.