We are in the midst of an extremely hot summer. As temperatures soar, global warming and climate change become issues that cannot be postpond. The entire world is grappling with these environmental issues. More and more, environmentally friendly practices are being explore. From residential to commercial construction, “sustainability” is the mantra we follow to reduce our carbon footprint and preserve our environment.
This trend is also reflected in hospital construction. Sustainable building practices will be the future of healthcare, and therefore there is no doubt about this assertion. Choosing sustainable hospital construction can not only impact our lives today, but also preserve our environment for future generations. Green building is not just a trend, it is now the only goal.

5 benefits of Sustainable Construction

1. Ensures Water Efficiency

• A hospital uses vast amounts of water. Sustainable building advocates the conservation of water. This type of building is about creating ways to store water, such as rainwater catchment systems. These systems are installed on hospital roofs,terraces, and lawns of hospitals and they serve as catch basins for rainwater.
• This rainwater is then subjected to a purification cycle and use for coolants, gardening, cleaning, fire protection systems, etc. This reduces the amount of water purchased from the local governments.
• Moreover, sustainable construction makes provision for sewage treatment plants in the design. Waste water is treated in these plants and reuse for purposes other than drinking, purposes like use in water fountains. Landscaping is designed to reduce water run-off and promote water retention.

2. Reduces burden on non-renewable energy sources

• Sustainable construction develops strategies for harnessing renewable natural resources like solar energy and to reduce the use of non-renewable resources like gas, petrol, and electricity.
• Solar panels are install on the terraces of hospital buildings to capture sunlight for operating solar lamps in common areas and gardens. The installation cost of these solar panels is high, but the investment is worth it because it not only saves on electricity costs, but also protects the environment from pollution.
• Large French doors and sun domes are part of the hospital design in order to capitalize on natural light. This not only reduces electricity consumption, but is also beneficial to the recovery process. Efficient cooling and ventilating systems are design to reduce electricity consumption.

3. Protects environment and health

• Some of the raw materials use in construction are harmful to the environment and can damage the ecosystem. Sustainable construction puts a strong emphasis on avoiding the use of these materials, even if they are relatively inexpensive and trendy.
• The green building strategy advocates the use of biodegradable materials such as wood, bamboo, or cane instead of non-biodegradable materials such as plastic and glass, which pollute the ecosystem and can remain in the environment for thousands of years.
• These eco-friendly raw materials are sturdy, durable and easy to maintain. Additionally, they are also free of toxic ingredients that can harm the environment. Sustainable construction also ensures that no pollution is not emit at any stage of operation. This leads to an improvement in the quality of life for patients and caregivers.

4. Reduces the waste disposal burden

• Reusing and repurposing old furniture and fixtures is another tactic of Sustainable construction. This process has a new name: “Upcycling.” This method seeks to find new uses for use and thrown material so that the burden of waste disposal and reducing the carbon footprint.

5. Long-term cost savings

• Saving the environment also guarantees money savings. Sustainable practices may have one-time installation costs. However, they have proven to be more cost-effective in the long run because they are low-maintenance, robust and long-lasting. Sustainable construction leads to energy savings and cost efficiency.

To summarize, sustainable construction is a priority today and it is now become a norm in hospital construction too. The benefits of sustainable construction extent beyond financial gains, it is advantageous to the future of our world too. If you need any help in curating a sustainable construction strategy for your hospital, contact Hospertz, a leading hospital consultancy firm in India.  

The blog has been written by Dr. Vishal Jadhav, a veteran in the field of hospital consultancy with a rich experience of more than 20 years and founder of the Healthcare Consultancy Firm, Hospertz.

Dr. Vishal Jadhav, Director

hospertz@gmail.com
+91 9867712705/ 9820833149