Hospitals spend $10 billion every year disposing of waste
according to the American Hospital Association. As industries everywhere are
“going green,” healthcare facilities are implementing green technology programs
as well, and the applications can be overwhelming. Not only do sustainability
initiatives help reduce hospitals’ carbon footprints, but also increase
operational efficiency and promote the patient experience, and hospitals’
relationship with the surrounding community as well as with their employees.
Health facilities consume about two and one-half times the
power of a standard commercial facility. They are massive consumers of energy
and utilities due to a multitude of contributing factors including: lengthy hours of operations, constant volume
environmentally filtered air management, complex waste control systems, and
extraordinary primary and secondary power equipment.
5 Green Design Tips:
Get a handle on things. With different waste streams managed
in different departments, overseeing waste management is a crucial step to
ensure a successful waste treatment program. Hospital waste generally falls
into 6 categories: solid, regulated medical, hazardous, pharmaceutical,
universal and recycled. Once tracking is in place, health organizations may
begin to execute a long term plan to measure sustainability effectiveness and
set benchmarks. A facility wide audit of energy, waste and water usage can help
in this endeavor to establish a baseline.
Upfront costs are easier to bear than you think. A 2007
survey in Building Design + Construction indicated an expected 3-15% premium
for operationally beneficial “green” building materials and systems. Without
argument, a short-term premium does exist for these types of facility upgrades,
however the strategy is sound. Some of
the up front load can be minimized through manufacturers’ inducements and municipal
incentives that include abatements or tax credits.
A first class example of a hospital leading the way with
green initiatives is Newberg Oregon Hospital. It is the birthplace of the
nation’s first hospital to operate entirely on green power. Newberg Oregon
Hospital eliminated the burning of fossil fuels saving the environment from
over three million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The hospital
purchases in excess of 2,160,000 kilowatt hours of renewable power annually
from Portland’s General Electric Clean Wind program. In addition, Newberg’s
directive implemented processes to reduce solid wastes and increase water
efficiency.
Another good example of a health system being proactive in
sustainability practices is Catholic Healthcare West (CHW). In 2008 CHW
increased food service environmental and sustainable programs by 30%. Also in
2008, the organization accomplished its long term goal of reducing solid and
medical waste to less than or equal to 15 pound per adjusted patient for three
years. More recently, after partnering with a medical device repurposing
company, CHW was able to redirect their medical waste which saved the organization
over $500,000 in supply costs.
The flexibility, renewability and sustainability of forward
thinking non-polluting engineering design compliments the universal mission of
healthcare. As if the benefit of minimal greenhouse effects were not positive
enough, factoring for inducements, incentives, abatements, tax credits and
energy savings, an educated team can construct near par and save millions for
the future.
Through strategic sustainability practices, the savings are
real. The truer question is not if hospitals should implement green directives,
but when and how aggressive are they willing to be.
Source:hcrealty
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