Loo-power from the skies saves hospital's cash

By REBECCA WALSH health reporter

Rainwater collected at the new Auckland city hospital will flush its 530 toilets as part of a drive to keep water and power costs down.

The rainwater will supplement bore and city water, saving about $30,000 a year on the hospital's predicted $1.2 million water bill.

Facilities manager Paul Jepsen said it might sound a small figure, but when combined with other savings such as those from the automatic light dimming system, it started to add up.

The light sensor system, which cost about $350,000, would automatically dim lights throughout the hospital depending on the amount of external light and whether people were in the room.

It was expected to pay for itself in electricity savings in four years.

A computer system will control the hospital's heating and ventilation system, adjusting temperatures to suit the season and occupancy rate.

It will also adjust tank water levels to collect the maximum amount of rainwater.

The new hospital, which opens on October 4, will use as much electricity each day as between 4000 and 5000 homes.

Overall energy costs at the hospital - New Zealand's largest building in floor area - are expected to jump from $2.8 million to $4.8 million a year.

Mr Jepsen said the coal-fired heating system would be abandoned in favour of more environmentally friendly gas, but the distinctive chimney would remain.

Using gas would reduce CO2 emission by 13,000 tonnes a year - 13 per cent of the 100,000 tonnes the Government wants the public sector to cut annually under the Kyoto protocol.

What's happening

Auckland Hospital is taking over inpatient services from National Women's and Green Lane from October 4 in a $200 million project. Day surgery and most outpatient clinics will be at the new Greenlane Clinical Centre.

Energy use

* The new hospital will have 530 toilets and 19,800 light fittings.

* Its power bill will increase from $2.8 million to $4.8 million a year.

* But a switch from coal to gas heating will save 13,000 tonnes in CO2 emissions - 13 per cent of the 100,000 tonnes the Government wants the public sector to cut each year.