Climate Connect to help facilities
Minister Assisting the Premier on Climate Change, Lisa Singh, has announced $48,000 funding to help Southern Cross Care Tasmania undertake energy conservation activities at its New Town residential aged care facility.
Ms Singh said the project demonstrated how the Government’s Climate Connect grant program was supporting the development of local solutions to climate change issues.
“Southern Cross Care will use the New Town project as a pilot case to demonstrate the benefits of rolling out energy efficiency improvements to other aged care facilities in their business,” Ms Singh said.
“Central energy monitoring will be established at the New Town facility and energy conservation measures, such as low-flow showerheads and sensor lighting, will be installed,” Ms Singh said.
“Residents, visitors and staff will also be encouraged to help by reducing their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions through a behaviour change campaign which will be implemented at the facility”.
Ms Singh said Southern Cross Care Tasmania had carefully considered the available energy conservation technologies to find solutions that would not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also help improve residents’ safety, health and quality of life.
“For example, the particular low-flow showerhead chosen will have therapeutic benefits for residents and the sensor lighting can help avoid falls if they forget to turn on lights.
“It just goes to show how action to help tackle climate change can have other positive benefits in the community”.