Uniting Invests in Solar to Power Aged Care

Uniting is installing solar panels at 27 aged care facilities in New South Wales and the ACT. The $2.6 million project will see up to 389 panels installed at individual aged care homes in the Sydney, Hunter/Newcastle, North Coast and ACT regions.

Uniting is the only major aged care provider in New South Wales to use solar panels on this scale. Many of the facilities involved in the program are expected to generate more than 20 per cent of power through solar, reducing costs by over $20,000 annually at many facilities.

"Uniting is serious about environmental sustainability, and this is a major step to reduce our carbon footprint," said Environmental Sustainability Manager, Michael Mathias.

"We hope to lead by example and encourage others to do the same. It makes great business sense too, because as well as reducing our carbon footprint, this will lower operating costs – this project is expected to pay for itself at most facilities in just four to six years."

The initiative is taking place in conjunction with a range of other environmentally friendly measures, such as installing energy efficient lighting and redesigning buildings.

Work began in March, and is due to be completed at all 27 facilities by December.

Uniting is a member of the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) Environmental Sustainability Committee, and became a Silver Partner in the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage’s Sustainability Advantage Program in 2015.

Click here to find out more about Uniting's residential aged care homes.