Louis Wauters outside Lithgow Hospital (Photo supplied)
Story by Louis Wauters
A Belgian medical doctor has journeyed to Lithgow and the Blue Mountains to learn more about Planetary Health and, while spending time at the University of Notre Dame’s Clinical School in Lithgow, has also explored Lithgow Hospital’s use of geothermal ground-source heat pump technology as part of its strategy to provide ‘green power for health’.
Key Points:
- Belgian doctor Louis Wauters is keen to tackle the root causes of our 21st Century health challenges, so has travelled to Lithgow and the Blue Mountains to explore how Planetary Health is being implemented in local government.
- With health systems in developed nations contributing about 5-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, he was also interested to learn more about Lithgow Hospital’s use of geothermal ground source heat pump technology.
- Geothermal heat pump technology can be retrofitted into homes and will pay for itself in 8-18 years.
Last year I graduated from medical school at the University of Ghent in Belgium, and during my clinical rotations I had the feeling of not getting to the root cause of the problems we were confronting. There is a Dutch saying that describes how I felt: that we were just mopping up water while the tap was on and the water kept running. Wouldn’t it be great to, where possible, prevent people from becoming sick instead of just treating sick people. Wouldn’t it be great to turn off the tap and not need to keep mopping!
This feeling led me to the area of preventive healthcare. With the biggest health threats of our time being climate change and ecosystem changes, I then ended up looking into Planetary Health.
Planetary Health is a discipline that sees the health of people intrinsically connected to the health of the planet: the ecosystems, the climate, and all of nature surrounding us. If we foster a healthy planet, we also foster our own health.
I started to delve deeper and had the opportunity to undertake an internship with the Planetary Health Alliance, the leading global body on Planetary Health. I learned so much from this experience but felt that it only catered to academia. This didn’t leave me satisfied, as I wanted to know how Planetary Health could make a difference in people’s lives.
I searched for where Planetary Health was being used as a framework to guide policy for communities and found that Blue Mountains City Council was the only place in the world that appeared to be doing this with its Planetary Health Initiative in Katoomba. I contacted the Initiative and arranged to come to Australia to learn from the work being done here.
I received a warm welcome on my arrival from Lis Bastian (left) and Saskia Everingham (right) from the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Two weeks ago I arrived in Australia and made my way to the Blue Mountains. The University of Notre Dame kindly provided me with accommodation near the hospital in Lithgow. I got to know people at the University and medical students who were having their rural rotations in the Lithgow area.
Staying near the hospital I discovered that it uses geothermal ground source heat pump technology to cool the hospital during summer and heat it during the winter. I was intrigued by this cost-effective sustainable energy solution and investigated further.
Geothermal ground source heat pump technology for heating and cooling Lithgow Hospital (Image supplied)
Instead of using an external cooling tower, the geothermal system runs water through an underground loop and uses the stable temperature of the earth to gain or lose heat before running through 75 heat pumps to provide air conditioning. The stable ground temperature at around 50-100 meters below the earth’s surface will remain almost constant at 15-17°C during the whole year.
The earth acts as a heat source or a heat sink for the hospital by running 96 pipes filled with refrigerants, a type of fluid that acts as a conductor to transport the energy, through a closed pipe system. The system is drilled into the earth to a depth of 110 meters under the hospital’s car park. This was done over 25 years ago, to allow for easier future access and to limit interference with the construction of the hospital in 1998.
In 2023 the original system was replaced with more efficient units including a modern control system and new refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential values.
During the summer months, when cooling is needed, a heat pump takes the heat from the air and stores it in the refrigerant. The refrigerant then passes through the underground pipes and is cooled due to the surrounding lower temperature. During the winter months, when heating is needed, this same heat pump will take the heat from the ground, through the refrigerant, and dissipate it through the air in the hospital. This system gives sustainable heating during the winter, and sustainable cooling during the summer.
The closed loops provide enough capacity for 67 air conditioning units and 11 water-to-water units. The water-to-water units produce chilled and heated water to the operating theatre air handling units, heated water for kitchen space heating and the hydrotherapy pool, and process cooling for the central sterilising unit. The heat pump still uses electricity but for every kWh of energy used it provides up to 2-4 kWh of energy for cooling and/or heating.
How geothermal heat pumps work.
This system can be an alternative to, or supplement solar panels., as it does in Lithgow. The added benefit is that it is more resilient in the face of external weather conditions. Unlike solar, it works as well during rainy or smoke-filled months or during winter when there is less sun.
Lithgow Hospital’s infrastructure includes a 367-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system, and 1,563 LED lighting upgrades. On a bright summer’s day between 9 am and 3 pm the hospital’s entire electricity usage can be covered by green power. Some energy can even be sold back to the grid.
According to Scott Hanson (formerly Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District):
“A traditional hospital air-conditioning system relies upon natural gas for large boilers to constantly heat water and electricity for air compressors to cool air. The biggest advantage with the Lithgow Hospital geothermal system is that no natural gas is required. All the heating and cooling of air is performed at the reverse cycle air compressors using electricity. In addition, the water used is pumped through the geothermal loop underground to use the consistent temperature of the earth to gain or lose heat naturally, thereby reducing the load at the compressor. Finally, the 367 kilo-Watt roof mounted solar panel system provides enough electricity to power the system entirely for most of the day for free. The geothermal system reduces the reliance upon fossil fuels by eliminating gas for the system altogether and reducing reliance upon electricity.”
Producing more energy than the hospital consumes on a sunny day (Image: supplied)
367 kilowatts of Solar panels installed across Lithgow Hospital (Photo supplied)
The geothermal heating comes with a high capital cost for residential buildings, estimated between $15,000 and $40,000, but has low running costs as you get free energy from the ground up and it will pay for itself in about 8-18 years. It is not only possible in new homes but can also be retrofitted in existing homes as the pipes don’t need to be directly under your house.
In Europe, geothermal heat pump technology is used more commonly. In Belgium, up to 50% of new homes being built use this system, facilitated by government subsidies. There is even a debate going on about making this technology mandatory for new homes.
It was great to see these economically beneficial energy systems which help address the current ecological challenges. The geothermal heating system provides cleaner energy and saves money for the hospital at the same time. Added benefits of using geothermal for air conditioning in the hospital include eliminating noise and the risk of Legionnaires disease.
I will be looking further for other initiatives that pique my interest while staying here in Lithgow and learning more about the beautiful Blue Mountains region.
Share this article:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
News From Around The Region
Thank you to everyone who participated in our second Planetary Health Day last Saturday at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. It was an inspiring and very enjoyable community event and you can see some of the highlights in this short video. A lot of our research and previous presentations can be found in the videos on our YouTube channel (link in profile). Please subscribe and share! Our next Community Day will be the Interfaith Gathering at 2pm on Sunday 30 March. #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #planetaryhealthparkland #communityday #katoomba #bluemountains
Thank you to all the participants at Planetary Health Day on Saturday and to everyone who tied a ribbon around the Peace Pole and struck the gong for Peace. And particularly to @tinamariepizel for creating the space for this to happen! #peace #peacepole #peacegong #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #notowar #community #love
Feeling the heat? Planetary Health Day will be cool!!!! As well as a program of inspiring speakers, an exhibition of the Frogs of the Blue Mountains and workshops (all in air conditioned comfort!), there will be live music and Plant Based Food stalls on Saturday 1 March. We’ll also have a wide variety of stallholders in our beautiful parkland: Earthrising Mushroom Farm with mushroom grow kits; Michael Trickett with his mobile saw mill; Clifftop Harvest with fresh local produce; Permaculture Matters with info about permaculture, upcoming courses and a chance to win Rowe Morrow’s book: Earth Restorers Guide to Permaculture; Blackheath Community Farm with garlic and seeds; Fire Halo with their bushfire prevention invention that featured on Shark Tank; Katoomba RFS with their fire truck; Vegan NSW with cookbooks; WIRES with information on how to care for our wildlife; Bushcare with how to regenerate our bushland to increase habitat; Blue Mountains Conservation Society and Wildplant Rescue with plants and info; The Repair Network; Boomerang Bags and Lacebrook Stitchery. We’ll also have a Bushcare session on site at 1.30pm and outdoor chess, games and activities for children courtesy of Sarah from Kindlehill School. View the full program and register here (link in profile): bit.ly/42HZ623
#planetaryhealth #katoomba #bluemountains #familyday #planetaryhealthday @clifftopharvest @permaculturematters @kindlehill_school @Lacebrookstitchery
@blue_mts_conservation_society @wildplant.community.nursery @bbagsbluemtns @wireswildliferescue @vegannsw @firehalo.au @earthrisingau
Physicist Hans Coster will be giving a presentation at our Planetary Health Day event this Saturday on Life, Energy and the Biosphere, including what he`s chosen to do at his property Middle Earth with nickel iron batteries. Reserve your place via the link in our profile. #nickelironbatteries #energy #life #biosphere #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #community
So much to see and do on Planetary Health Day this Saturday! The Planetary Health Precinct & Parkland is looking stunning with the first hint of Autumn. Here`s the Speaker Program and Music Schedule to help you plan your visit. There are also workshops, demos, games, stalls, coffee and plant based foods, and a Peace Pole and Peace Gong to remind us that we are all connected and Peace is essential for a healthy planet. You can register for the day here (link in profile): bit.ly/42HZ623
#planetaryhealth #peace #program #katoomba #speakers #bluemountains #community #familyday
Fill this Saturday 1 March (Planetary Health Day) with art, music, food, fun, community and getting lots of boxes ticked: native plants, fresh produce, garlic for planting, and mushroom grow kits purchased; plant based cheese tasted and tips for making it picked up; clothes upcycled and repaired and Repair Network joined; Boomerang Bag made; mobile saw mill, fire halo to reduce ember attack, nickel iron batteries, passive house and natural building, and the best bushfire sprinklers investigated; FrogID app tried and frog calls of the Blue Mountains matched to photos; Bushcare experienced; the knowledge of a leading physicist addressing the question ‘where to from here’ in relation to our biosphere absorbed; and information gathered on how to do a Permaculture Course, how to help our wildlife (WIRES), and how to protect our vulnerable World Heritage area (RFS, Blue Mountains Conservation Society and Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Service & Nursery). Thank you to Blue Mountains Folk for this great musical line-up. View our full program and register here (link in profile): bit.ly/42HZ623
#livemusic #planetaryhealth #community #art #freshproduce #permaculture #worldheritage #learn #beinspired #greatfood #nativeplants #nickelironbatteries #firehalo #plantbased #katoomba #bluemountains #planetaryhealthday
On Sunday the @rotary_club_lower_blue_mtns enjoyed a Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre. They had the first glimpse of the Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition opening this Saturday 1 March. They also toured the Centre`s Water Demonstration site and thoroughly enjoyed the plant based cheese making demo and tasting. Planetary Health Day will be another great Family Day. Check out the program and register to attend at the link in our profile. #familyday #planetaryhealth #katoomba #bluemountains
Check out this stunning photo by @cam__candy in our Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition, opening on Saturday 1 March at Planetary Health Day. Do you know what type of frog it is, or what the other 20 or so known frogs of the Blue Mountains are called? Did you know that the Blue Mountains is home to Whistling, Screaming and Laughing Tree frogs? We’re thrilled that Britt Mitchell from the @australianmuseum will officially launch our exhibition with her presentation on FrogID: People-powered Frog Conservation. She’ll explain how we can all become citizen scientists to help protect these extraordinary amphibians. Britt will also talk about her PhD on the impact of urbanisation and climate change on frogs and how FrogID helped with that research. Come and see what every frog in the Blue Mountains looks like, and listen to their calls.
You can read about our other Planetary Health Day events and reserve your spot for Britt’s presentation here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4gQkju5
#planetaryhealth #frogs #bluemountainsfrogs #planetaryhealthday #citizenscience #frogID #biodiversity #frogcalls
We are in for such a treat on Planetary Health Day next Saturday 1 March! We`ve partnered with Vegan NSW and local providers to showcase the most delicious plant based food. Come for coffee and breakfast, stay for morning tea, invite your friends for a lunch meet-up and then stock up with delicious meals and local produce for the week, including mushroom grow kits to keep you going into the future! Try out the Little hm caravan for coffee, treat yourself to the amazing cakes and pastries from Secret Creek Cafe and Morley`s Recipes, and give your tastebuds a hit with the delicious snacks and meals from Bibi`s Kitchen and the Thai Street Food of Plant Based Eatery! PlantInspired will be doing one of their fabulous plant based cheesemaking demos and tastings, Clifftop Harvest will be sharing fresh local produce, Earthrising Mushroom Farm will be selling Mushroom grow kits and Vegan NSW will have a Vegan Info Hub and Refreshing Lemonade Stall! Don`t forget to let us know you`re coming by registering for the day here (link in profile): bit.ly/42HZ623
@vegannsw @plantbasedeatery @secretcreeklithgow @bibis_kitchen_au @morleysrecipes @earthrisingau @clifftopharvest @little_hm_caravan @plantinspired99 #vegan #plantbased #vegetarian #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthdiet #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #delicious
Read about the steps to create a green roof in this week`s Planetary Health newsletter (link in profile). Mark Liebman will be speaking about how to manage water to reduce impacts of fire, flood and heatwave at Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba ( link in profile) #greenroof #planetaryhealth #viking #longhouse
Dismayed by the global news? Check out our latest inspiring local stories by local people in this week’s Planetary Health newsletter here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/41o7kvf
1. A Green Roof on a Mini Viking Long House in Blackheath
2. Life & Energy, Middle Earth & Nickel Iron Batteries
3. The Next Generation of RFS Volunteers Encourages Others to Join
4. Birds of Australia at the Springwood Hub and the Frogs of the Blue Mountains at Planetary Health Day
5. Plant Based Cooking Classes Inspiring Katoomba Locals, a Plant Based Cheese Demo and Tasting, and a Plant Based Market
Subscribe to get more great local news via any of our news sites.
#greenroof #vikinglonghouse #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #energy #biosphere #volunteer #birdsofaustralia #solutionsmedia #hyperlocalnews #goodnews #frogs #plantbased #vegan #bluemountains #katoomba #springwood #blackheath #lithgow #wentworthfalls
@wentworthfalls_rfb @blue.mountains.theatre @bluemountainscitycouncil @plantinspired99
@australianmuseum
