Bairnsdale Regional Health Service is committed to providing health services for the East Gippsland community in the most environmentally responsible and sustainable way possible.

This includes constructing the largest array of photovoltaic solar panels in East Gippsland to power our Day Street hospital campus and our Maddocks Gardens aged care facility in McKean Street.

This investment represents big savings to the BRHS budget and in terms of our carbon footprint.

• Installation completed at Maddocks Gardens in March 2019 and Day Street in July 2019
• 1,944 panels in total
• Estimated savings – more than $200,000 per year
• Expected project payback – about 5 years
• Solar kiloWatts at peak (kWp) installed – Day Street buildings, 700kWp; Maddocks Gardens, 80kWp

History

This system was installed following as competitive tender process through the 2017-18 Energy Efficiency and Solar PV program, which was funded under the Greener Government Buildings Project. The Department of Health provided these funds to BRHS via an Interest-free loan

An energy audit was completed in May 2017 to identify opportunities in potential savings and to conduct Solar PV installation assessments.