Fighting climate change is an all-hands-on-deck mission. Hospitals, which keep us healthy and safe, share the responsibility for keeping the earth healthy and safe. Let’s explore hospitals’ environmental footprint, their current efforts to improve, and one solution that could make a real difference.
The Problem: Recognizing Hospitals’ Impact on the Environment
“Healthcare organizations can no longer ignore their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions,” reads a recent statement accompanying the climate change standards proposed by The Joint Commission (TJC). The new standards hold hospital leadership, including clinical and facility representatives, responsible for their carbon footprint-minimizing efforts.
And there’s plenty to minimize. The combined health sectors of the US, Australia, England, and Canada produce a staggering 748 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. This number is equivalent to the emissions of a nation that would rank seventh in the world for greenhouse gas emissions.
Hospitals also produce a lot of waste. Over 29 pounds of waste per bed per day, to be exact. This includes medical waste, which may be radioactive or contaminated, requiring a detailed waste management strategy.
The Challenge: Hospitals’ Efforts to Improve Sustainability
In addition to their pledge to ‘do not harm’ and the commitment to public health, hospital leadership cares about the environment for several reasons:
First and foremost, energy efficiency and waste prevention affect its bottom line, and hospitals face board members and investors asking difficult questions regarding their utility expenses. Last year, over half of US hospitals reported financial losses and struggled to cope with their high costs.
Second, hospitals now need to focus their efforts to uphold upcoming regulations. Hospitals across the US already take sustainability efforts seriously, with 88% out of 345 surveyed hospitals appointing sustainability leaders and 59% of hospitals reporting on sustainability to their BOD. But they will need to step up their game, starting now. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking steps to implement new requirements for hospitals and health systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, potentially enforcing penalties for non-compliance.
Third, they care about employee satisfaction, and today’s employees, mainly in high-demand professions, choose work environments that match their values. A Reuters survey found that 65% of employees are more likely to work for a business with strong environmental policies. Given the talent shortage in the healthcare field, attracting the best physicians and nurses is a top priority goal for hospitals.
And finally, they care about their reputation. Unlike employees, patients do not always have a choice regarding the hospital they approach, but those who can choose are likely to choose based on the hospital’s overall reputation, including its approach to sustainability. 94% of patients consider hospital sustainability programs important.
Hospitals know how crucial their resilience is to the local community. Some of the sustainability efforts being undertaken by them include:
The Solution: Air Conditioning Energy Storage
The above examples are a great starting point, but air conditioning (AC) energy usage is one of the most crucial areas hospitals should focus on to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. AC usage in commercial buildings, including hospitals, contributes to 40% of carbon emissions in the US.
Simply turning the AC systems off is obviously not the answer. Research shows that HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems benefit our health. They improve patient recovery, reduce cardiac stress incidents, and have even been associated with reduced mortality and shorter hospital stays. When combined with other practices, air cleaners and HVAC filters can even help reduce the indoor airborne transmission of contaminants, a capability that proved particularly important in the COVID-19 era.
Hospitals must minimize the negative impact on the environment on one hand and keep these benefits on the other. They must consider operating their HVAC systems using renewable energy sources, while keeping in mind that solar energy is unavailable after dark.
This is where energy storage solutions come into play. By storing clean energy and using it during peak polluted hours, hospitals manage to lower the burden on the grid, utilize reliable and renewable energy throughout the day, and reduce their electricity bills simultaneously. Energy storage is the way to keep hospitals’ AC on using clean energy 24/7.
Hospitals must ensure the technology chosen lightens the burden on their existing infrastructure and doesn’t compromise their resilience level. Storage solutions must include backup cooling systems that operate alongside the hospital’s current systems without causing blackouts. Additional safety concerns are why lithium batteries, for instance, are often off the table. Choosing a reliable solution like water-based thermal energy storage technology can yield revolutionary results.
By acknowledging their role in the battle against climate change, hospitals can continue to implement sustainable practices and prioritize AC energy storage solutions. Through collective efforts and continuous improvement, hospitals can lead the way in creating a healthier, more sustainable world for generations to come.
About Douglas Poffinbarger
Douglas Poffinbarger is the Director, Commercial Operations at Nostromo Energy, a company that specializes in thermal energy storage. Poffinbarger leads Nostromo’s regional sales, from initiation to delivery. Poffinbarger has decades of experience in building performance, energy and sustainability. Prior to Nostromo, Poffinbarger was CEO of 3fficient, a green building and clean energy company in San Diego. He has also held leadership roles at NRG Energy, PE Consulting, and Honeywell International.