Green Hospitals: Living Conservation

The word ‘green’ is of the essence in present times as its impact is a reflection on the legacy we believe in building for the future generations

Nandini Shah Manager-Architectural Services Hosmac India

Let us take the example of good design: mental thought processes on green initiatives incorporated in large projects. The institutional category that healthcare is classified into calls for a deeper look at planning and construction qualities where ‘conservation’ conforms as the current priority. Living conservation is a way of life and should be used to our advantage.

The ‘green movement’ is nothing but the way we decide to treat our environment differently, because of its source. Consider: How have we earned our existential rights? What is it that we are doing to return this charge intact and as received? Are we not responsible? The inheritance that we take for granted is not ours alone, thereby making it necessary to respect the property we reside on; the Earth.

Hospitals, being one of the largest guzzlers of energy, power and resources, it becomes all the more our duty to keep services, economics and utilisation checks for reducing the damaging effects they have on the environment. The hospital building is to be seen as a derivative of long term planning; it is not a building that sprung up in a short time, wherein it will be required to be treated differently, but entails complicated engineering. The building takes careful utilisation of tools that aid design and requires personal attention from stakeholders. Conscious decisions from the parties involved are imminent as they can have far reaching effects on the environment. Hence it is prudent to consider the projects as personal, else they would not be able to cash in on the values derived in the long term.

Not just institutional buildings, but ‘green fundamentals’ are at work every day in almost every planning, construction and economic decision we make. This practice enables us to segregate the investments of green basics into different accounts, like working on reduction in the carbon footprint, achieving green credit ratings, saving on energy consumption, factoring in the responsibility to erase man-made defects to the habitat, and lastly, gifting the environment its bounties back.

Some common examples of such liabilities are seen in the situations discussed here. There are groups that may get the free bonus of achieving green ratings and make outflow plans for these; yet others are able to keep the same green points in savings and current balance books, but have large energy expenditures unchecked for conservation directives’ sake. Another group may consider the sudden utilisation of huge amounts of energy as being fine not to think of, consequently ignoring conservation and environmental impacts. But this guzzling may not stop as the need arises from different ‘glaring’ factions. At the same time, there are other groups which think that a smaller green initiative, as an investment, can discount the larger, long term initiative. The economics in the business of healthcare, like other industry ventures, is what becomes the link between quick gains vs. long term returns, which is, in essence, the decisive factor for incorporating green initiatives in healthcare setups.

Living conservation fundamentals can be a positive force when a healthcare facility is able to earmark a certain portion of effort – be it human resource, IT or MEP services (man and machine) – and income towards environmental beneficiary credits or create such banks.

However, more often than not, the environment is at a loss due to poor interest or decision-making on such matters. Directly affected by this is the patient, as he is unable to get the value and utility promised by care-givers. This is demonstrated when indoor air quality is compromised, fresh air and light are blocked, re-circulation of air breeds germs and spreads infection, bio-degradable waste is handled as general waste, gas emissions go unchecked, and even when staff are unable to conform to standards of sterility.

Hospitals consume more energy than any other large building. Their services and engineering have to be carefully planned in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC designs. Using appropriate or alternate measures, energy usage can be reduced in various areas of a hospital.

Water conservation system

Going green must be implemented as a way of life. Going Green is a powerful movement, it has several advantages and is handy in avoiding costly mistakes. It will be necessary to train and impart education to make all environmental benefits global. As a continuing process, environmental benefits are not to be treated as windfalls but conservatively cycled in unison for maximum gain.It will be necessary for healthcare providers to take stock of the upward green gradient and think about important rating deposits, resulting in equal distribution back into the environment's needs. Once these are understood, it will become easier to eliminate dipping green credits.

Likewise, the management can make use of conservation fundamentals by deciding to evaluate and maintain the green methodology of their hospital for every stipulated time period, thus creating a green-goal oriented quality allocation and reviewing it regularly as an annual ritual. Healthcare institutions' core mission of protecting human health provides the basis for them to speak with their words and actions on the health implications of building construction and operation and stipulated time period, thus creating a green-goal oriented quality allocation and reviewing it regularly as an annual ritual.

The healthcare industry has a leadership opportunity to move the larger building industry towards a healthier approach. This can be achieved by demonstrating the best in healthy, sustainable design, construction, operations and maintenance practices at its own facilities.

The planning and design of such green ventures addresses the concerns regarding energy efficiency, the use of clean energy resources, improved indoor environment through usage of green building materials and maximising the use of controlled day lighting encouraging recycling and waste prevention and management strategies. It is also essential to design ways that promote the practice of good building operations. This holistic approach results in a flawless design process with all its inherent advantages.

(The author can be contacted at nandini.shah@hosmac.com)