Hospital goes green
Netcare N17 Hospital recently reduced its environmental footprint by implementing sustainable energy solutions in the form of solar photovoltaic (PV) roof panels.
General manager, Andries Joubert says the 435 kilowatt peak (kWp) PV roof panels project started in October last year and it took five months to complete.
This initiative is expected to reduce the hospital’s annual energy consumption by 739 500 kilowatt hour (kWh).
Netcare has embarked on a national initiative to install the PV roof panels at its facilities in order to reduce the group’s energy and carbon footprint.
Joubert says according to the World Energy Council, an average South African home consumes around 4 389kWh per annum.
“To put the hospital’s expected energy savings into context, it translates into enough energy to power approximately 168 houses for one year.”
In another project aimed at optimising energy efficiency, the hospital has replaced around 1 400 traditional, energy inefficient lights with new energy efficient light emitting diodes (LED) and fluorescent lights.
This initiative forms part of the Netcare Group’s five-year environmental sustainability strategy, with an initial focus on projects that drive energy efficiency and renewable energy.
“We are committed to entrenching a robust sustainability and energy efficiency culture within our hospital to limit our impact on the environment and ensure sustainable energy,” says Joubert.
