The solar program initiatives began in 2021, and in the last two years alone has generated more than 4.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy across 18 sites, significantly reducing Calvary’s reliance on traditional energy sources.

In fact, the program even managed to increase its renewable energy generation from 2,020,986 kWh across 19 sites in 2023 to 2,470,369 kWh across 18 sites in 2024. The reduction in solar initiatives was due to the decommissioning of one site.

Solar panels are currently installed at six hospitals, four specialist services, including mental health, a drug and alcohol service, and day surgery, and ten retirement villages. These sites are located across Australia.

Calvary’s National Manager Environmental, Social & Governance Transformation, Sarah King, said the initiative had not only delivered substantial financial savings in a period when the cost of energy is soaring but had contributed to a greener future.

“In the most recent financial year, Calvary had offset 1,221 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to taking 575 cars off the road, or planting 19,403 trees in FY24,” Ms King said.

“According to an article published in The Lancet, in Australia the healthcare sector's carbon footprint is estimated to be more than seven per cent of the country's total emissions, so we are committed to adopting positive and sustainable steps to meaningfully reduce our environmental footprint, without compromising the delivery of care to our patients, residents and client.”

The International Day of Clean Energy is on Sunday, 26 January and renewable energy initiatives like solar power are becoming a critical solution to responding to climate change and reducing emissions.

Calvary is also adopting a number of other green initiatives including recycling across a variety of areas and prioritising sustainable procurement contracts.