Northern Health is committed to promoting a sustainable and healthy community, and recognises the need to reduce its environmental footprint.

The Northern Health Environmental Management Plan 2023 – 2028 addresses Northern Health’s environmental impacts in its operations, and sets out planning, policies and procedures to support this commitment in the future.

Through this plan, Northern Health has set bold targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040, ahead of the 2050 target set by the Victorian Government.

Northern Health’s greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 120,660 tonnes of carbon for the financial year ended 30 June 2022. This represents a decrease on the previous financial year of 1,450 tonnes of carbon, this was despite the expansion of our services and the opening of additional beds. The decrease is largely due to more renewable energy being passed through the
grid (approximately 30 per cent) which has reduced our Scope 2 (indirect) emissions.

This figure is set to reduce even further with the installation of solar panels across Northern Health sites. By mid-February, the final two solar arrays will be installed and operational at Bundoora Centre and Northern Hospital Epping. When combined with arrays already harvesting electricity from the sun at Broadmeadows, Mclellan House, NCHER and the new Mental Health Building, it’s expected to be able to generate in excess of 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day.

The benefits of a more sustainable operation aren’t just restricted to environmental concerns. Alex Jovanovski, Director of Engineering & Building Services, said “The system has the potential to save Northern Health up to 20 per cent off it’s electricity bill annually.”

The solar panels also relay information from across all sites which can be used to generate reports on energy collected and savings made.

“This is a great innovation,” Mr Jovanovski continued, “as you can see real time updates on how we are tracking over time.”

Siva Sivarajah, Northern Health Chief Executive, shared this encouragement in his message from the opening pages of the plan. “Northern Health continues to embrace its environmental responsibilities and I encourage staff, patients, contractors and suppliers, and our community to actively participate in creating a healthier and more environmentally sustainable Northern community.”

If you would like to read The Northern Health Environmental Management Plan 2023 – 2028 it is available here.