sustainable hospitals archivos - ETKHO Hospital Engineering

The new symbiosis between hospitals, climate change and sustainability

Hospitals are an important part of the healthcare industry and have a significant impact on the environment and climate change.

The bad news is that they are an intrinsic part of it. And the good news is that more and more hospitals are committing to becoming more sustainable and reducing their carbon footprint.

By reducing energy consumption, implementing sustainable strategies and raising awareness among staff and patients, hospitals can contribute to a more sustainable and healthier future for all.

Sustainability and environmental protection in hospitals

It is everyone’s job to reduce carbon emissions in hospitals and to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare management.

Every 5 June is celebrated worldwide as Environment Day. This date is an excellent opportunity to remember what is at stake, to highlight, to rethink and to act.

In this new Etkho post, we want to talk to you about the adaptation and evolution of hospitals to contribute to the health of the planet. Faced with the climate emergency, the deterioration of ecosystems and atmospheric pollution, the threats to the planet are many.

These elements have a variety of consequences for people all over the world, including the emergence of associated infectious, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as for animals.

Biophilic design in hospitals: the importance of natural light in the health of patients

The truth is that a change is taking place in the design of sanitary facilities. Functionality, without taking a back seat, has given way to the patient and their well-being. To achieve this, one of the most useful and simple measures with a better cost-benefit ratio is the biophilic design.

A well-distributed environment with fresh air, with a good proportion of openings to the outside and good natural lighting, provides improvements in the health of patients and healthcare personnel. From reducing hospitalization time to reducing patient mortality, reducing pain, reducing stress… It is proven that the connection with nature alleviates anxiety and optimizes the experiences of users, family members and health workers in health environments. It is betting on the motto “home away from home”.

Sustainability in hospitals: beyond the efficient use of electric power supply

Sustainability has become one of the great challenges for society and, of course, also for hospitals. In Spain, many hospitals and health centers were built decades ago and now need to be renovated to be more sustainable, both in terms of the efficient use of the electricity supply and the facilities themselves. All this with a clear objective: to achieve energy savings and reduce emissions and the environmental footprint.

To guarantee the sustainability of the system and reduce its social and environmental impact, the only alternative is to be more efficient in the use of resources and energy. For this reason, it is vitally important that hospitals and health centers think about long-term sustainable development.