Treating patients and saving lives yields medical waste, which must be disinfected. The traditional disposal method is incineration. However, this emits toxic fumes. Earth-friendly hospitals sterilize infectious waste with microwave units, hybrid steam, and autoclaves. After autoclaving, some facilities recycle the metals and plastics or use them as fuel, keeping them out of landfills.
By law, healthcare facilities must use red biohazard bags to segregate medical waste from garbage. Frequently, hospital staff members erroneously place non-contaminated items in red bags. This practice adds to the amount of infectious material that must be sterilized.
As a result, red bag misuse drains hospital funds while also building landfills. To remedy this problem, facilities are becoming more diligent in educating staff on how to properly segregate waste.
To save single-use devices (SUDs) from cluttering landfills, hospitals are reprocessing them, such as by contracting with Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest healthcare systems in the US. First, Kaiser secures the SUDs from hospital surgery departments, labs, and patient rooms. Then, the company ships the items to vendors for cleaning, disinfecting, and repackaging. With a reprocessing program, medical instruments can safely be used multiple times!
Additionally, hospitals are more judicious in using their operating room packs, kits universally stocked with surgical supplies. Traditionally, packs were opened before patients arrived in surgical suites, with unused equipment discarded after procedures. Now, staff members customize the packs for different operations, assembling them precisely, with only needed supplies.
Hospitals must be stringent when disinfecting surfaces. However, conventional cleaners have harmful chemicals, endangering both human and planetary health. In people, associated side effects include headaches, breathing difficulties, nausea, rashes, neurological damage, reproductive defects, and cancer.
Plus, caustic ingredients pollute the air while destroying our planet’s ozone layer. Without this atmospheric protection, we’re more vulnerable to the burning effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
To reduce toxic exposure, hospitals are becoming more eco-friendly by using “green certified” cleaning products, verified as safe for us and our environment. Such cleaners are tested by a third party, assuring the ingredients are nontoxic and biodegradable, yet effective at killing pathogens. Additionally, green manufacturers use ecological practices when formulating and packaging their cleaners.
Top certifying nonprofits are Green Seal, EcoLogo, and Safer Choice, with each agency placing their proprietary seal on approved cleaners. While all these organizations are trustworthy, Safer Choice is notable for implementation by the Environmental Protection Agency.
When hospitals acquire food from distant locations, the deliveries are made by enormous, gas-thirsty trucks. To save fuel, hospitals are partnering with regional food distributors, shortening the distances food must travel. In turn, vendors source their fruits and vegetables from local growers. Such produce is much fresher than imported food.
If the farmers practice sustainable cultivation, the ecological benefits multiply! Plus, quick transport helps preserve the nutrients in harvested food. Consequently, institutional meals are healthier and tastier, with less being discarded by patients and hospital staff.
Some facilities convert food waste into compost, using it as landscaping fertilizer. Other hospitals hire composting firms to collect their food residues, supplying local farmers with the compost. Another beneficial practice is offering vegan meal options for patients and hospital staff.
As hospitals are becoming more eco-friendly, less medical waste and SUDs go to landfills. Low-flow fixtures conserve water, and converting to renewable energy reduces pollution and the effects of global warming.
When facilities choose green-certified cleaning products, they avert exposure to toxic chemicals. By sourcing locally grown fruits and vegetables, patients and staff eat healthier. Additionally, since produce travels shorter distances, less fuel is used to transport and refrigerate food.
As a hospital employee, you can assist the greening of your facility. Your efforts will add meaning and purpose to the vital work you do. Lead the way to a healthier planet today!
Green hospitals are sustainable hospitals. The concept of ‘green buildings’ can be traced to the United Nations concerted efforts, over the years, to bring to the fore the idea of ‘sustainability’ in all aspects of human development. Within the declaration of this conference it was proclaimed that, “The protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue which affects the well-being of people and economic development throughout the world, it is the urgent desire of the people of the whole world and the duty of all governments”
A healthcare facility should be a place that promotes health and renewal. That is why we work closely with the design team to create bright, open environments that exude a sense of wellness and vitality. We also oversee construction to ensure each building is free from harmful irritants such as grinding dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mold.
Our internationally recognized efficient healthcare construction solutions (Audit Services) also help to reduce the operational costs of running an expensive laboratory and processing equipment in healthcare.
Some of our healthcare construction services (Advisory Development Services) include:
Need a healthcare construction certification? Our experienced green building consultants help you get a green building certification like LEED, WELL, or Estidama.
Our Building Information Management and Virtual Design Management services will help you visualize your project before you implement your project.
Our healthcare construction consultants will help you create a truly successful project thanks to our commissioning services.
Want to make sure that your building operates as optimally as possible?
Our mission is to make the construction and development industry more sustainable. One of the tools we use for this is our innovation department, Alpin Innovation Labs (AILA). We offer you several of the newest solutions on the market.
Our healthcare construction experience includes some of the most prominent construction and development projects in the region: Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and beyond.
“On the whole, I was delighted with Alpin’s team, their professional and friendly manner and, above all, a pragmatic consultancy approach aimed at maximizing the value of BREEAM for all stakeholders. I have no hesitation in recommending Alpin to support you in your next sustainability project or initiative.”
