Our Healthy Hospitals Electrification Campaign
Our new Healthy Hospitals national work will campaign for the rollout of all-electric, renewable-powered healthy hospitals in every state and territory in Australia.
Healthcare in Australia accounts for 7% of Australia's total domestic carbon footprint. Much of these emissions come from fossil-fuel-based energy sources such as coal-generated electricity and fossil gas.
This ambitious initiative will deliver significant emissions reductions and enhance climate readiness for our healthcare system, which serves every community in Australia.
We know that all-electric hospitals are healthier for patients, healthcare workers, the community and our climate.
While many health networks have commendable sustainability plans to reduce emissions, fully electrifying hospitals is an essential element of this transformation. This includes electrifying both new health infrastructure and retrofitting all existing health facilities.
We are amplifying the voices of trusted healthcare workers, medical colleges and organisations to drive this inspiring campaign to secure federal government commitments to Australia's transition to an all-electric healthcare system.
If you'd like to get involved or learn more, please contact Ursula at: [email protected]
We will be starting a working group on this project shortly.
Take Our Hospital Survey
Has a disaster impacted your hospital?
Have you or your community been affected by extreme weather? What was the impact on your local hospital? Please help us find out more about your hospital's disaster readiness, and what issues your local community and the hospitals closest to you face. Your experiences matter and we want to let decision-makers know why our hospitals should go all electric as soon as possible.
We want to learn about your experiences, either as a community or on-site staff member.
The Benefits of All-Electric Hospitals
Hospitals that run on electricity from renewable sources offer a range of benefits for climate, health, and the economy. Here’s why all-electric hospitals are essential:
Climate
Converting hospitals to electric heating and hot water production will significantly reduce their carbon emissions, contributing to the fight against climate change and protecting public health.
Climate Readiness and Resilience
All-electric hospitals with renewable energy solutions, including on-site generation, micro-grids, and battery storage, will be better equipped to handle extreme weather events and energy insecurities.
Justice
A healthy public healthcare system is a key feature of a just society. Ensuring that hospitals are both ethical and sustainable is critical for delivering equitable healthcare.
Economic
All-electric new builds and retrofits will lead to medium and long-term cost savings. Locking hospitals into an insecure energy source like gas exposes them to volatile pricing. By reducing energy bills, hospitals can reinvest savings into healthcare services.
Health Benefits
Electric heating and hot water systems produce fewer pollutants than gas-based systems, contributing to cleaner indoor air. Gas-burning systems in hospitals can release harmful pollutants, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, both of which are linked to serious respiratory and other health issues.
Why Electrification is Good for Health
Electrification reduces exposure to indoor air pollutants like those produced by gas appliances, which are associated with respiratory conditions like asthma. Additionally, electrification will help to reduce hospitals' carbon footprints, mitigating the health impacts of climate change.
- Asthma Australia has noted that replacing gas heaters with electric alternatives can improve asthma symptoms.
- Hospitals still using gas can expose patients to pollutants linked to respiratory infections, fatigue, and even cancer.
- Electric systems provide safer, cleaner environments, particularly in healthcare settings.
All-Electric Healthy Hospitals FAQs
1. What does electrification mean?
Electrification refers to removing a hospital's reliance on fossil gas and fully transitioning to renewable-powered electricity. This includes examining opportunities for solar energy on-site, EV infrastructure, and, where applicable, microgrids. This transition focuses on ordinary energy use, not on diesel generators or backup systems.
2. Is appropriate equipment available, accessible, and affordable?
Yes, the technology required to electrify hospitals is widely used across multiple sectors and is often the default in new construction due to lower operational costs. The equipment needed for electrification is accessible, and it is a financially viable option.
3. Will this cope with peak demand, and future peak demand?
In most climate zones, hospitals can be electrified without increasing peak demand. In some cases, peak demand may even decrease due to renewable energy, micro-grids, and thermal storage solutions. However, in certain southern climates, the peak demand may shift from summer to winter and increase slightly. Any potential upgrades to local electrical infrastructure will be included in the cost estimates. Authorities responsible for maintaining the electricity supply are planning for these electrification works when building future capacity.
4. How will this fit with local/federal laws and regulations?
Electrifying hospitals aligns with all federal, state, and local regulations. Several states are introducing legislation that requires new facilities to avoid using fossil gas, which will likely apply to hospitals in the future. The Australian Health Facility Guidelines, which are used as the basis for most hospital designs, are consistent with all-electric hospital infrastructure.
5. Can’t we just reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) instead?
Electrification is a necessary step in decarbonising the healthcare sector and meeting both state and federal emissions targets. While energy reduction programs, including HVAC efficiency improvements, will continue to provide long-term value, these programs do not address the need to fully electrify healthcare infrastructure.
6. How will the reduced emissions be calculated?
Existing hospitals typically burn fossil fuels onsite to deliver essential healthcare services. Electrification will reduce this fossil fuel usage, leading to direct reductions in local emissions. While electricity use may initially increase, emissions will decrease as electricity grids decarbonise. Each hospital's electrification project will include a measurement and verification plan to track energy consumption before and after the works, with emissions reductions calculated based on the National Greenhouse Accounts Factors.
7. Why are feasibility studies needed?
Feasibility studies are essential for identifying the costs, savings, and emissions reductions of retrofitting hospitals. These studies will also provide a knowledge base for future retrofitting efforts and climate preparedness within the healthcare system. By studying hospitals in different climates and locations (metro, regional, rural, and remote), the studies will help determine the most effective retrofitting strategies for various hospital types, ensuring cost savings and emissions reductions.
8. What happens during power outages and catastrophic events (e.g., cold chain management, ICU machines)?
Most critical hospital systems, such as cold chain management and ICU machines, already run on electricity. Backup power will continue to be provided by fossil fuels as per the Australian Health Facility Guidelines. However, electrification projects will also consider on-site renewable energy generation and storage options to increase energy security and resilience during extreme events.
Call to Action
This initiative is crucial to transforming Australia’s healthcare system into one that is healthier, more sustainable, and climate-resilient. If you would like to get involved, please contact Ursula Alquier at ursula.alquier@healthyfutures.net.au.
Pilot Hospitals for Electrification
We are beginning this important work with nine pilot hospitals located across VIC, NT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and WA. These hospitals represent a range of climates and locations in Australia, and they will undergo feasibility studies to estimate costs, savings, and emissions reductions.
