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Public Sector Perspectives podcast: Victorian Health Building Authority and sustainability
14 Oct 2022
How can public servants help reduce the energy demand of Victoria’s health system? In our latest episode of Public Sector Perspectives, we explore some of the surprising ways that hospitals can be more energy efficient and why it’s worth investing in better environmental design.
In our latest episode of Public Sector Perspectives, IPAA Victoria chats to Julian Freeland, Senior Project Officer, Environment and Sustainability, at the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA), which is responsible for delivering the Victorian Government’s $28 billion program of building and renovating our state’s healthcare infrastructure.
Victoria’s public health system can be a big energy consumer. Our public hospitals and health services produce 20% of the Victorian government's total energy related carbon emissions. As the demand for health services continues to grow, improving the environmental performance of health infrastructure will play an important part in helping to meet Victoria’s target of zero net emissions by 2050.
In this episode, Julian discusses some of the surprising ways that hospitals can be more energy efficient, how to persuade project managers that it’s worth investing in better environmental design, and how this type of public service work creates a real sense of satisfaction and value.
The VHBA is a branch of the Department of Health (DH) in the Victorian State Government. Through strong partnerships with local and federal government, health services, industry and Victorian communities, our expert teams provide innovative and sustainable solutions to ensure our health system meets the current and future needs of all Victorians.
“Through innovation, we’re looking at reducing the pressure loads [of operating theatres], through the heating and cooling and the pressurisation of the space, that when they’re not being used, we can reduce the energy demand of an operating theatre.”
Podcast speaker
Julian Freeland Julian Freeland is a Senior Project Officer, Environment and Sustainability at the Victorian Health Building Authority. In the team, Julian delivers expert advice and technical guidance on the development, design, and construction phases of health care infrastructure.
Born in the United Kingdom and arriving in Australia in 2001. Julian has developed an extensive career working in the Australian Government and several State Government public service. Julian has built a career in passionately engaging and enabling people to adopt environmental and sustainable outcomes in the built environment space.
Public Sector Perspectives is a podcast produced by IPAA Victoria, the professional association for people who work in and with the public purpose sector in Victoria.
