Sustainable

Healthcare
Jillian Gautreaux
Paula Henry
Brian Mcgarry
Jillian Raxdale
Iya Tsyrkot
Background
Inpatient healthcare ranks as the
second largest commercial energy user
after the food service industry.

The healthcare sector contributes
approximately 8% of the USs
greenhouse gas emissions.

Delivery of energy and water to hospitals
relies heavily on fossil fuels toxins
emitted such as mercury, arsenic,
greenhouse gases, NOx, SOx, etc.
These toxic emissions negatively
affect human health.

ORs account for about 33% of all
hospital supply costs & have large costs
for energy use & waste management.

Purpose
Health care leaders
recognize the sizable
impact their facilities &
practices have on
everyone & everything.


Involves important
decision-making that
simultaneously
improves their bottom
line, the environment &
the community.
Why Sustainability?
To improve brand
image, build trust &
build reputation
To save money
To increase employee
satisfaction,
engagement &
retention
To foster a good public
image
To manage risk &
regulatory compliance
To improve
operations
To demonstrate
corporate social
responsibility
Discussion and Analysis
Waste Management
Inefficiencies
Health facilities create 6,600 tons of waste per
day, not all of which is disposed of properly (red
hazard bags).
Incineration produces dioxin and mercury air.
Failure to recycle, lack of reusable products.

Implications to Financial bottom line:
85 percent of typical hospital waste is mistaken
for being hazardous. Leads to add. Disposal costs
and treatment.

Energy Use Reduction
Inefficiencies
Hospitals use 836 (Btu) of energy
annually-2
nd
most energy intensive
building sector.
Common energy-wasting practices include
fully heating or cooling spaces which are
unoccupied, and failing to maintain
equipment.

Implications to Financial bottom line:
spend over $10 billion on energy annually.

Water Inefficiencies
Largest using water sector.
Water-use audits are not normally
implemented.
Failure to check for water leaks and runs.
Water contaminated with pharmaceuticals.

Implications to Financial bottom line:
Water conservation can yield a return on
investment ranging from 25 to 40 percent for
large facilities (translating to >100,000
savings in water, sewer, and energy costs).

Why is there a hold up towards sustainability
efforts? Why do inefficiencies exist?


Hospitals are dealing with many important
issues and there are competing priorities.

Due to funding and staffing problems,
fixed income

Plenty of sustainability options

Healthcare Waste
5.9 million tons
annually produced by
hospitals

Up to 60% of the
Hospital Waste is
recyclable

Waste Management Plan
Waste Minimization
Source Reduction
Reduce unnecessary purchasing
Use physical versus chemical cleaning
methods
Limit or eliminate usage of materials

Management and Control Measures
Monitoring of chemical flows within the
health facility from receipt to disposal
Checking of the expiration date of all
products at the time of delivery
Use of the oldest batch of a product
first

Waste Segregation

Waste Minimization
Waste Management Plan
Reuse and Recycling
Offer recycling options to
staff, patients, etc.

Implement responsible
donation program
Ensure that donated
equipment and supplies are
being used properly

Reuse sharps containers

Properly discard and
recycle hazardous wastes
Energy
Hospitals use more than
8% of the nations
energy.

Pollutants can contribute
to chronic bronchitis,
asthma attacks,
respiratory symptoms &
premature death.

Hospital energy costs
rose 56 percent between
2003 and 2008.


Energy Star Portfolio Manager


Energy reduction strategies
Low/no cost
implementations
Off-hours shutdown
Daylight/occupancy
sensors
LED lighting upgrades
Reducing air changes
and temperature in ORs
Solar film on windows
Saving water to save
energy

Expensive
implementations
Energy saving products
High efficiency electric
motors
Renewable energy
systems
Energy service provider
EPAs WaterSense
WaterSense, a partnership program by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
seeks to protect the future of our nation's
water supply by offering people a simple
way to use less water with water-efficient
products, new homes, and services.

EPAs WaterSense
High water-efficient plumbing fixtures
The program labels these products as being
at least 20% more efficient than ordinary
products without losing production and
performance.

Select low-flow and ultra-low-flow fixtures to
become more water efficient (check the flow
threshold)
High water-efficient
plumbing fixtures

Toilets
High-efficiency (or ultra-low-flush) toilet model that uses 1.3 gpf
or less (current EPA WaterSense standard)
Dual-flush toilet
Composting toilet
Shower Heads
Ultra-low-flow shower heads that use 2 gpm or less (current EPA
WaterSense standard)
Faucets
High-efficiency faucets that use 1.5 gpm or less (current EPA
WaterSense standard)

Storm Water Management
Green Infrastructure or Low-Impact
Development (LID)
Stormwater management systems that mimic
nature by soaking up and storing water.
Treats storm water as a resource rather than a
waste product.
Bioretention facilities, rain gardens,
vegetated rooftops, rain barrels, and
permeable pavements
Other Solutions
The GreenHealth Energy Alliance
Increase Awareness
Install automatic shutoff valves or motion
sensor-activated faucets
Steam Sterilizers