Sustainability and Climate Change Take Center Stage at Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo

Blog Contribution by NIHD Member Christina Olivarria, MSPM, PMP, HACP, LBBP.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

That wraps up another eventful and successful Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo. For those of us familiar with attending and presenting at conferences, there is often a key takeaway about what trends those working in the sector should be planning for. Climate Change and Sustainability was undoubtedly the biggest takeaway from this year's conference, with exciting keynote sessions and a presentation from UC Irvine on the planning and design of the nation's first electric hospital. I left the conference with a call to action – what can we do to increase our knowledge about sustainability so we can incorporate changes into how we operate?

During "A Discussion about Climate Change and Energy Efficiency," Moderator Beth Howard led a dynamic discussion with healthcare leaders from UC Irvine, Boston Medical Center, and Cleveland Clinic. Stark realities about how our health system currently operates were discussed, including the fact that the healthcare industry is responsible for 4.4-4.6% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, with the United States responsible for about a quarter of those emissions globally. The health sector is responsible for 8.5% of national carbon emissions. Setting the stage with those facts, panelists shared how, internally within their facilities, they have created sustainability programs to reduce their carbon footprint. Below are some items of note that resonated with me:

Leadership Starts from the Top –
Having an executive sponsor was a common theme discussed by all panelists. Incorporating sustainability into organizational annual goals and initiatives demonstrates to staff the importance and value of the topic.
Maximize Space –
Boston Medical Center shared how an internal evaluation of space utilization data post-pandemic enabled them to restructure how they allocated space, ultimately consolidating their footprint to reduce the amount of square footage being used and the amount of energy. I also loved how they created a rooftop farm that serves the patients and community and prolongs the life of their roof by soaking up the rainwater.
Create Partnerships –
UC Irvine spoke to their partnership with regulatory agencies, such as HCAi, as they have designed and constructed the nation's first fully electric hospital. Transparency and open dialogue were critical success factors discussed, as the team shared how they worked to ensure all code requirements were met during design.
Create a Champion Program –
Change is hard, especially for giant medical centers, so having internal champions is critical to ensuring the transition to sustainable practices is ultimately sustainable.

I challenge each of you to consider what steps, as leaders, we can take to support sustainability and energy conservation in our organizations. Consider signing up for education, attending a conference, leading an e-waste collection campaign, or incorporating sustainability tools into your daily practice. Acknowledgment and awareness that a change must occur is your first step toward a better tomorrow. Don’t forget to contact your peers to see what they are doing in their organizations.

Speaking of peers and networking, we are less than a month away from the annual Healthcare Design Conference. This year, NIHD will host our pre-conference workshop R.A.I.S.E. the Bar for Healthcare Design through Research and Evidence. If you plan to arrive at NOLA on November 3rd, don't forget to register for our member dinner. For information about the conference and our recommended clinical tracks, check out our NIHD at HCD 2023 page.

For more information and tools about sustainability, visit Energy Star.