MASTER PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALS
(Part 2: Green Hospitals)
INTRODUCTION
We present a dynamic system for incorporating, modifying and optimizing hospital operation, adapting to modern sustainability.
It all starts by measuring the carbon footprint, to execute the system at all levels.
INCORPORATING HABITS
The inclusion of habits, standards and controls for the correct functioning of institutions are the basis of our system that, together with efficient building design, manages to make them environmentally friendly.
CURRENT PROBLEM
The healthcare sector is one of the sectors that has the greatest impact on the environment: the hospital heals and at the same time pollutes since it not only handles a large amount of waste, but also wastes energy resources of all kinds.
“Health without harm” is possible, but because more than half of the sector’s climate footprint is attributed to excessive energy consumption (electricity, gas, steam) we propose to state the incorporation of our system into health policies.
WE MAKE IT SIMPLE
By incorporating the system, the processes begin to be certified.
In this way we establish plans that allow them access to credits for the use of investing to achieve sustainability objectives.
“At the same time, we are influencing other sectors to collaborate with the care of the planet today.”
FORMATION
Education is essential for implementation in all areas, which is why we provide a short diploma plan that “is a structural and educational change” that provides a comprehensive building transformation and health actions, along with management aligned with the preservation of resources and the correct use of raw materials, with subsequent control of waste.
¡ACTION SUSTAINABLE!
The sustainable actions of health establishments manage to improve efficiency through this system in all its metrics; as well as the quality of the management that generates EFFICIENCY.
As a result we are reducing institutional costs greatly.
SOLUTIONS
Global climate objectives must be aligned with the development of our system, which will provide growth in environmental compliance and will specify the obtaining of credits (in some cases non-refundable) in health.
ACCELERATE THE PROCESS: This allows us to accelerate the incorporation of habits, through action plans that deepen research and educational tasks for the population.
SAVINGS: Reducing the sources of emissions from health centers (heating, electricity, production and transportation chain: fossil fuels) and supporting society’s transition towards clean and renewable energies help us reduce the sector’s climate footprint; “but also to obtain savings.”
TAKE CARE OF RESOURCES: Reduce water consumption and costs by applying efficiency measures, they can begin through conservation, also reuse and recycle waste of all types, carefully evaluating alternatives for special ones.
SELF-GENERATION OF FOOD: It is about providing sustainably produced food to employees and patients.
ENERGY SELF-GENERATION: It is what allows us to reduce all direct and indirect costs, as well as encourage the use of subsidized public transportation or electric vehicles.
In this way modifying the use of fossil fuels for the hospital vehicle fleet.
STRENGTHS: Biophilic design and energy efficiency are pillars of a green hospital valuing mixed resources: climatic, landscape, environmental and regional sociocultural inherent to the commune where it is located, including functional conditions of practicality, asepsis and comfort.
BONUS: Private investors benefit the most by reducing operating costs with the energy transition, which adds to their commercial spirit.
As well as social and business responsibility.
WHAT ‘S COMING…
The measures to make a hospital sustainable include (in addition to controlling its emissions) all areas related to use and reuse.
The adaptation and redesign of hospitals must be constantly monitored for real-time correction, changes that integrate new health concepts focused on caring for the environment; that we offer you as a system.
In this way, expenses will be reduced and services will be optimized since the lower energy demand will ensure the independence of the facilities.
SYNTHESIS:
Below, we present a table outlining the steps to follow.
EXECUTION
To reduce the environmental footprint of the health sector, the transformation and/or adaptation of health institutions into “Green Hospitals” is necessary so that they become a community reference point in sustainability and positioning as leaders of the global environmental movement.
REDUCTION OF POLLUTING MATERIALS
The fulfillment of certain objectives such as the reduction of the use of toxic chemical substances and the generation of waste by transforming the supply chain; promoting positive actions on the climate agenda.
HEALTH WITHOUT HARM
We implement concrete actions at the institutional level, contributing to the idea of offering “health without harm.”
Education and economic financing.
They come from the savings obtained by applying EFFICIENCY, which become fundamental pillars to carry it out.
CONCLUSION:
The system, with its different stages, guarantees that the environmental goal is achieved.
The application is based on the efficiency of institutional operation, thanks to the saving of approximately 70% of energy taking into account what was achieved in each intervention area, translating into a reduction in emissions.
Likewise, the sustainable design, construction and operation practices for the new green hospitals become a challenge and opportunity to protect or improve the health of their communities, inspiring other sectors to adopt these principles for the same healthy purpose, with which we highlight the social impact generated by the reduction of emissions.
Initiatives such as optimization of resource consumption (electricity, paper, water and air conditioning) become vital in the work of sustainable concepts and their impact on the environment.
Several aspects are constant throughout the entire implementation plan, namely
○WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
○PLANNING AND CREATION OF ORGANIC GARDEN
ENERGY REFORM: (We are committed to solar energy self-generation and electromobility)
SHORT TRAININGS: with a quick initial insertion on changing habits.
We achieve this: training human capital under standard requirements.
CONTINUOUS CONTROLS AND MONITORING: to maintain the reduction of the Carbon footprint.
FINAL OBJECTIVE: Achieve a Sustainable Institution, that hospitals use fewer energy resources without altering the care offered to their patients.
That they can be self-sustaining by generating clean and renewable alternative energies to obtain a reliable, adaptable and, above all, imitable transition.
We tell you more in the next chapter, where we delve into the points expressed here.
We are a GREEN HOSPITAL GROUP, an organization that is constantly working to improve health services.
“We look forward to your inquiries.”
AUTHOR:
●MARCELO FABIÁN SAITTA
UNIVERSITY SPECIALIST DOCTOR IN PEDIATRICS
●LAURA SILVIA ADDUCI
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SPECIALIST IN NEUROSURGERY
●MARÍA VERÓNICA VIÑAS CHACIOR
MEDICAL SPECIALIST IN GENERAL SURGERY
TOGETHER WORK WITH BALGREEN.ORG.org
●DELFINA FRERS CEO &
●DR. DIEGO BALVERDE
