Designing a Sustainable Hospital of the Future
Date Posted: June 27, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Environment/Sustainability,
From Gensler: The global healthcare industry exerts a disproportionate impact on our climate, accounting for around 5% of greenhouse gas emissions. To put this in perspective, if the health sector were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter. Hospitals, as the primary culprits, consume 2.6 times more energy than other commercial buildings and churn out a staggering 13,000 tons of waste daily. This environmental strain directly affects human health and deepens disparities, particularly in marginalized communities. Despite urgent calls for change and the introduction of new state regulations, healthcare lags other industries in the implementation of sustainable design solutions.
Typical approaches to sustainable hospital design involve improving the efficiency of conventional buildings within established delivery systems. What if, instead, we thought bigger? What if we asked how redesigning service delivery and infrastructure could not only mitigate climate change but also enhance community health outcomes? Could asking bigger questions provide more impactful solutions for the financial challenges, workforce shortages, and equity imbalances that plague the industry?
Compounding Impacts
As our understanding of the intricate relationship between environmental health, climate change, and human well-being deepens, the strain on our health system becomes increasingly evident. The correlation between air pollution and the rise in ED visits due to asthma attacks underscores this burden. Additionally, heat-related deaths are on the rise, with older adults and Blacks at disproportionate risk. With a projected increase in individuals experiencing the health effects of climate change in the coming years, the demand on our healthcare infrastructure will inevitably surge. However, within this challenge lies an opportunity: by prioritizing climate action, healthcare systems can keep our communities healthier and reduce the need for hospitalization.
Upstream Solutions
Healthcare resembles a flowing stream, characterized by the currents of health, cost, and climate impacts. At its upper reaches lie strategies focused on optimizing health with minimal resource consumption, while at the lower end lies the intensive treatment of severe illness. Today, a significant portion of healthcare resources are channeled into downstream interventions within the hospital setting for unnecessary ED visits, surgeries, prolonged inpatient stays, and radiation therapies. Not only are these facilities expensive to construct and operate — they’re characterized by their substantial carbon footprints. To make a tangible difference in community health and climate impact, we must shift upstream.