Partner Content from Vets for Climate Action
A practical guide to emmisions reduction in practice
Scope 1 emissions reduction
Onsite emissions
Transition off fossil fuel gas
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Heat pump hot water
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Electric clothes dryer - industrial Vs commercial with heating element. There may be limited availability of heat pump industrial dryers but this may be changing quickly
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Reverse cycle AC (with climate friendly refrigerant R32 or CO2 if available)
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Renewable energy providers and solar options
Reduce anesthetic gas use
See Masterclass on the Carbon Cost of Anaesthesia
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Capnography - allows safe reduction of gas flow
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Oxygen generator - cheaper O2, especially if you have rooftop solar
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Nerve stimulator - better nerve blocks
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Syringe pump - CRI pain relief, TIVA
Electric vehicles for the practice
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Novated lease on EV purchases - there are Australian companies that organise novated lease packaging.
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Install EV fast charger at your practice (if you have 3 phase power this will charge at 75km per hour). There are regularly state government initiatives / grants to reduce the cost to practice
Scope 2 emissions reduction
Electricity purchases
Rooftop solar
Ideally suited for general practice who use most of their power in the daytime. Save $$$.
Green power purchase agreement
Allows scope 2 emissions to become zero
LED lighting replacement
High energy efficiency, long lifespan, cost effective
Battery backup
Better use of surplus solar, provides backup to medicine fridges in power outages, enables participation in Virtual Power plant to create further savings
Solar panel shading for the client carpark
Maximise the surface area available for solar panelling
Energy audit to identify savings
VfCA has an arrangement with Resinc Solar that offer free energy audits to practices
Scope 3 emissions reduction
Emissions from suppliers to your practice
Employee commute
Install EV charger and roster for team to use (when EVs more widely available)
Go paperless
Recycling
Colour coded bins for point of use
Specialist recycling companies
Batteries, phones etc.
Pet cremation by aquamation
An eco-friendly alternative to flame cremation.
Deliveries to practice
Totally compostable packaging NO PLASTIC
Water purifier for autoclave
Avoid deliveries of distilled water
Reusable hospital drapes, gowns, masks
Helps to reduce landfill
Greenfleet carbon offsets that support biodiversity
Offset travel to conferences
How to support Vets for Climate Action
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Donation - VfCA is a not for profit charity and any donations would be appreciated, and can be publicly recognised eg. https://www.vfca.org.au/our_friends
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Promote sustainability and Net Zero
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Promote our initiative ZerOctober as Net Zero month in the vet profession