The Central Victoria Solar City and Ballarat Health Services Partnership

On Friday 14 October 2011 Central Victoria Solar City and Ballarat Health Services celebrated the launch of their partnership which seeks to demonstrates excellence in energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, across five sites including the Base Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Centre. The partnership is supported by state and federal governments and both the Honourable Mark Dreyfus QC, MP Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Simon Ramsay MP, Member for Western Victoria, were there to celebrate the launch.

Central Victoria Solar City support includes:

• 35kW solar array on the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre building
• 25kW solar array on the Queen Elizabeth Centre
• 9kW green car shelter at Base Hospital site
• 9kW green car shelter at Queen Elizabeth Centre
• 2 x electric vehicles
• Solar hot water unit at Psychiatric Services
• Solar hot water unit at Queen Elizabeth Centre

In addition, Ballarat Health Services has sourced funding to implement or install the following:

• Improved ventilation and heat recovery
• High performance facade to improve occupant comfort
• A selection of low toxicity materials with an aim of minimisation of known cancer causing agents
• Utilisation of the Bauer Control System for energy savings
• Low energy lighting including LED technologies
• Improved building control
• Cyclist facilities

The partnership will illustrate the benefits of energy saving and generation in a health services setting. The project will be monitored over two years to measure the cost savings for the hospital and to model their application across other Victorian Hospitals. The Victorian Department of Health will work with Central Victoria Solar City to share the findings from Ballarat’s Centre for Excellence in Energy Performance with all Victorian hospitals and health service providers.

An innovative aspect of the partnership include the trial of two electric vehicles, including a Mitsubishi I-Miev. The electric cars will be used for frequent short trips around Ballarat. The car battery is charged with electricity generated by solar panels on the roof of the car shelter. This aspect of the trial will provide all Victorian hospitals with an evidence base around the value of switching from petrol cars for frequent short trips around town to small electric cars.