Green Buildings

The Growing Threat of Climate Change

September | October 2008

Scientific consensus is that human activity is a driving force in climate change through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and through deforestation. Healthcare facilities are one of the leading producers of greenhouse gas emissions, due, in part, to their 24/7 operations. Everything has a carbon footprint, and for a hospital it’s everything from cleaning supplies to surgical equipment to the meals served to patients. The important thing is to have an understanding of the greenhouse gas implications of all your purchases and then make procurement choices that might have a lower carbon footprint. [read article]

By Diane Laux, ABC

Cleaning Green

July | August 2008

The health of a facility affects the health of its occupants. As it turns out, some of our hospitals aren’t the healing environments we think they are. That’s because the cleaners typically used in hospitals contain irritating and toxic contaminants which pose a threat to healthcare workers, patients and guests, and to outdoor environments as well. [read article]

By Diane Laux, ABC

Daylighting Your Facility

May | June 2008

Achieving full-scale daylighting in hospitals is one of the greatest challenges in sustainable design, especially when aiming at LEED credits. Daylighting can pay healthy dividends for all patients, and the families and clinicians who care for them. Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado are two facilities that have successfully overcome these challenges. [read article]

By Diane Laux, ABC