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Follow us on social media! |
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Meet our new Medical Advisor: Myles Sergeant!
Dr. Myles Sergeant is a family physician who has worked with vulnerable populations, including new immigrants and refugees, people experiencing homelessness and/or addictions, and the elderly, over the past 25 years.
Dr. Sergeant is "pleased to be joining the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, which has been leading sustainability in Canada's health sector for the past 20 years."
The Coalition is excited to have Myles as our new Medical Advisor, "Increasingly physicians are recognizing that their pledge to "do no harm" extends to the impact of their decisions on the environment. We're delighted that Dr. Myles Sergeant has agreed to work with us to bring an important medical perspective along with his knowledge and enthusiasm to advance a number of projects and initiatives with us," says Neil Ritchie, Executive Director of the Coalition.
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Clean Fuel Awareness - Request for Information |
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Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Request for Information (RFI) on clean fuels awareness and education projects is now open and will close on May 4th, 2022.
The RFI seeks to collect information to gauge the interest and readiness levels of projects that would advance the basic awareness of and confidence in clean fuels among industry/commercial users/producers and the general public in Canada.
This RFI seeks information about new innovative projects that align with Government of Canada objectives and for which funding may be pursued through applications to the planned call for proposals.
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CleanBC’s EV Charger Rebate Program |
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To assist with the transition to lower carbon transportation options like electric vehicles (EVs), the province of British Columbia is working with BC Hydro and Fortis BC to offer rebates in B.C. for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EV charging stations through the CleanBC program. Rebates are available for:
- Workplaces
- Condos and apartments
The CleanBC program offers a contribution of:
- Up to *$5,000 (regularly $2,000) per Level 2 charging station
- Up to *75% (regularly 50%) of your total project costs
FLO, a Canadian leader in EV charging, has deployed hundreds of units across various funding programs, including CleanBC. FLO can offer you support and expertise in navigating the application process, and help you to determine the ideal EV charging infrastructure best suited to your needs.
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Call for 2023 webinar series topics
CHES
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The Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES) Webinar Sub-committee is seeking proposals for webinar topics for 2023. Presentations must be an educational benefit to all attendees.
Preference will be given to topics that cover energy and sustainability, HVAC, domestic water systems management, commissioning, contract resolution law, capital planning, project finances, budget development, building management systems integration, LEED, project management, infection control during construction and renovation, wayfinding, illumination, electrical requirements for HCF, UV compliance and preventative maintenance; or any other topic that is related to the facilities management of a health care facility.
Deadline for submissions: May 15th, 2022
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A BIG thank you to SaveOnEnergy for their continued financial support for the Ontario Green Health Care Award and the Ontario Energy Behaviour Award.
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National responsibility for ecological breakdown: a fair-shares assessment of resource use
The Lancet
Canada ranks second in the world for annual per capita resource use overshoot.
New paper at Lancet Plan Health quantifies national responsibilities for overshoot of resource use beyond fair shares within a sustainable resource use corridor. Unsurprisingly, findings mirror the authors' previous analysis of national responsibilities for CO2 in excess of fair shares.
Human impacts on earth-system processes are overshooting several planetary boundaries, driving a crisis of ecological breakdown. This crisis is being caused in large part by global resource extraction, which has increased dramatically over the past half century. They propose a novel method for quantifying national responsibility for ecological breakdown by assessing nations’ cumulative material use in excess of equitable and sustainable boundaries.
High income nations are the primary drivers of ecological breakdown by appropriating massive quantities of resources from around the globe. The
authors conclude that high income nations must urgently scale down resource
use, which requires rejecting green growth and embracing principles of degrowth.
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The world is on fire. Why is Canada considering massive new oil drilling?
The Guardian
Coal and other fossil fuels are “choking humanity.” Those were the words of António Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations, in response to the sobering recent International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which warned that the world has a small window remaining to act before irreversible and catastrophic impacts are locked in.
Last year, the International Energy Agency and the IPCC both confirmed that in order to stay below 1.5C of warming, the expansion of oil, gas and coal projects must stop and a planned winding down of both production and emissions begin. Yet according to the UN Environment Programme’s Production Gap report, the world is on track to produce double the amount of fossil fuels that can be burned on the planet.
Canada and Norway are two of the world’s biggest fossil-fuel producers. While the two countries have demonstrated leadership in terms of putting a price on carbon pollution and getting rid of coal plants, they share a major blind spot when it comes to oil.
Case in point: a Norwegian company, Equinor, is now proposing a giant oil drilling project called Bay du Nord off the coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The project is estimated to produce up to 73m barrels a year, which is equivalent to adding more than 7m gas-powered cars to the road.
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Quebec finally legally protected against the fossil fuel industry
Équiterre
Citizen, environmental, student and health groups want to highlight one of the most significant environmental victories in Quebec's history, the adoption of Bill 21, An Act mainly to end petroleum exploration and production and the public financing of those activities. Quebec thus became the first state in the world to ban oil and gas development on its territory. This victory is the result of decades of hard work by numerous environmental, citizen, student, and health groups, but would not have been possible without the will of political parties.
Although the groups consider and reiterate that oil and gas companies do not deserve compensation provided for by law, they wish to congratulate parties in the National Assembly for their committee work. Before reaching this point, it was a long struggle against the fossil fuel industry and some political parties in power. Tens of thousands of volunteer hours were devoted to protecting Quebec's natural resources, the health of its population and to leave a livable future for next generations.
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New tracker for the health care sector
Green and Healthy Hospitals
Tracking how health care waste is produced, processed, and recycled has never been easier. Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and HECAF360, HCWH’s strategic partner in Nepal, developed six tracking tools for health care facilities to understand and control their waste management.
Each tracker is specially designed for a different stage of the waste management process, and they may be filled in by different people playing different roles in a hospital or health system. Optimized for daily data entry, the tracker produces clear summary tables and graphs that a waste manager, waste management committee, or facility director can quickly view to assess their performance and make informed decisions to improve.
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Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation's New Report
The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
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Intact Centre has released its new report on Irreversible Extreme Heat: Protecting Canadians and Communities from a Lethal Future. Urban areas are the hot spots of global warming. Natural disasters caused by extreme heat, alongside flooding and wildfire, are already a key risk to the health and well-being of communities in Canada, and the situation is getting more dangerous with time because of climate change.
This report presents a series of practical actions that Canadians can undertake to reduce risks in relation to extreme heat. They fall into three categories: Changing behaviour (non-structural), working with nature (green infrastructure), and improving buildings and public infrastructure (grey infrastructure).
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Menus and room service: How hospitals can transform patient experience
Healthing
Every day, a typical large hospital throws out more than one tonne of food, according to a 2014 report. In some Canadian hospitals, more than 50 per cent of food served to patients ends up as food waste.
One reason driving the deluge is the average daily food budget, which is less than $8 a patient — dollars that are stretched across three meals to meet the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care guidelines. These tight budgets often drive health care institutions towards cheap and highly-processed foods, resulting in tasteless, reheated meals that are left uneaten on the tray.
Another reason for the waste stems from the fact that many hospitals and long-term care homes no longer prepare their own food, instead, buying from large suppliers and distributors. And while preparing food off-site allows for efficient, one-stop shopping, it also requires a two-day lead time — 48 hours during which a patient could be moved, discharged, or scheduled for a procedure that restricts eating, resulting in a wasted meal.
A national coalition of health care and community leaders, including Food Secure Canada and Health Care Without Harm , hopes to change that. Organisations like Montreal-based Nourish aim to transform the reheated, industrial food served to patients into climate-friendly, plant-rich and culturally diverse meals.
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Food systems should deliver benefits in terms of climate, health and society
Inter Press Service
Which country do you think best recognizes the potential for changes to food systems to reduce emissions? Presumably a developed country, where agriculture is predominantly intensive, heavily subsidized and fuelled by fertilizers and irrigation, and where high consumption of animal proteins is the norm?
Not so, – as researchers found when they analyzed the national climate plans for 14 countries, including the US, UK, China, Senegal and Bangladesh, in partnership with the Global Alliance for the Future of Food.
Perhaps counter-intuitively it was Colombia and Kenya that stood out from the other countries as having submitted plans to the UN climate talks that best took into account the potential for food systems reform to drive down greenhouse gas emissions, and deliver a range of other benefits including improved health and livelihoods, enhanced food security, better gender equality, and wider environmental gains such as clean water and nature recovery.
Conservative estimates suggest that changing the way we produce and consume food could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10.3 billion tonnes a year – 20% of the cut needed by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius and – hopefully – prevent catastrophic climate change.
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Budget 2022 puts over $9 billion into EV battery supply chain, ZEV purchase rebates, suitability assessments and clean electricity
Electric Autonomy
Canada’s 2022 budget, with $85 billion in new spending, was released against a less-than-ideal global backdrop in a move that demonstrates the government will not let national opportunities slide — particularly those in the zero-emission sector, which received nearly 10 per cent of the total budget funding.
Overall the budget is a positive for the clean mobility sector and reaffirms much of what was suggested or hinted at in last month’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, and some of what industry stakeholders have lobbied for over the past 12 months.
“It’s a very interesting budget and we think it’ll go a long way to bringing us closer to our targets. All these pieces are coming together and we can feel the move. I think it’s a very big step in the right direction,” says Louise Lévesque, policy director at Electric Mobility Canada, in an interview with Electric Autonomy Canada.
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Plug'n Drive partners with Uber Canada to help drivers switch to Electric Vehicles
Plug'n Drive
In a recent survey of drivers on the Uber platform in Canada, Uber found that 71% are interested in switching to an Electric Vehicle (EV). This is significant as we know that these drivers drive more than the average person, meaning every one that switches to an EV has an outsized impact in terms of putting green kilometres on our streets. But we also know that it can be challenging for drivers to make a big decision like transitioning to EV.
That’s why Uber has partnered with Plug’n Drive, a non-profit committed to accelerating EV adoption. Plug’n Drive will create and offer webinars as well as host test drive opportunities for drivers. This will give drivers the opportunity to learn about the cost of owning an EV and the benefits of making the switch.
“We know that EVs are cheaper to drive and better for the environment, but everyone’s situation is different. This program will help educate drivers on how much money they can save as well as how much they can reduce their carbon footprint by switching to an EV.” said Cara Clairman, President and CEO of Plug’n Drive.
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The benefits of electromobility: Let's talk about it!
Earth Day Canada
According to a recent article, 61% of respondents to a survey on electromobility said that the gas prices have convinced them to convert to electric vehicles, while 51% said they would “never buy a gas-powered vehicle again”. The automobile industry is changing, and the good news is that the general public is starting to really recognize the potential of electromobility!
Beyond the soaring prices at the pump, other factors could explain the renewed interest in electrified vehicles: the government continues to offer financial incentives to encourage the general public to make the move (for example, through the Roulez Vert program in Quebec).
The technology is constantly improving, and despite a few bumps in the road when the market was under development, we’re seeing a lot of innovations aimed at improving the driving experience: reduced recharging time, improved autonomy, use of electric vehicles as a backup power supply at home, interconnectivity with smartphones, regenerative braking, silent engines, etc.
Add in the fact that the road transportation sector alone accounted for 25% of Canada’s total emissions in 2019, compared to 11% for agriculture, and climate change rationality (supported by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report) dictates that more and more people and politicians are looking to electric vehicles.
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Vancouver council to debate $10,000 license fee for gas stations that don't offer EV charging
Electric Autonomy
Vancouver’s city council will debate a proposal in May that could see a $10,000 annual fee slapped on gas stations and parking lots that do not have electric vehicle charging stations.
A business license currently in the city costs $263 for a gas station and $163 for parking lots. But if these sites don’t offer EV chargers to customers by 2025, they will be forced to pay the higher $10,000 price. The aim of the new proposal, says city staff, is to “encourage and accelerate EV uptake and adoption.”
“At present, there are 66 gas stations and 366 commercial parking lots licensed to operate in Vancouver,” reads the staff referral report titled Encouraging EV Charging at Gas Stations and Parking Lots. “The recommendations in this report aim to encourage owners of gas stations and commercial parking lots to install EV charging where people are accustomed to fuelling up and parking.”
In order to meet the proposed requirements, gas stations would need to provide a minimum of 50 kilowatts of charging power for one DC fast charger. Parking lots would be required to have at least 26.6 kilowatts, which would be enough to power four Level 2 chargers.
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Driving ethically: Understanding the sustainability of electric cars
Auto Trader
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This in-depth guide on the sustainability of electric cars by Auto Trader, is a good starting point to understand how the rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs), the mining and manufacture of EV components, and how the lifecycle of EVs plays into long-term sustainability efforts.
The piece includes insights into:
- The infrastructure challenges of rising demand for electric cars;
- A look at sustainability strategies within the car industry;
- The impact of increased manufacturing of EV batteries and chargers;
- The global efforts towards increased transparency and traceability of EV supply chains;
- 'Circular economy' initiatives to reduce scrap and landfill waste from EV manufacturing;
- And, helpful advice for responsible electric car ownership.
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Building hospitals in the pandemic era
Health Facilities Management
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major economic and social disruptor, and hospitals have not been spared from this turmoil. People want to stay out of hospitals now more than ever. If they need to be on-site for any reason, they want to feel safe, know they will receive high-quality care and go home in better shape than when they arrived.
As the world continues to learn more about COVID-19 and update processes and procedures to accommodate the changing environment, there is a need to design and construct new spaces and facilities that are as well-equipped as possible for future pandemics.
The longer COVID-19 sticks around, the more it is viewed as an issue that must be continuously considered. While the hospitalization rate for COVID-19 patients rises and falls, other health care needs remain. Hospitals cannot afford to shut down operations because they need to be available for their communities. They must find ways to flex up to manage patient surges and operationalize these spaces when they aren’t serving COVID-19 patients.
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Version 8.1 of the RETScreen Clean Energy Management Software platform has been released with an array of new features. It is now available for download from the RETScreen website HERE.
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EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS |
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Climate, health and health care: A speaker series for health professional learners |
The Green Meds Coordinators at UofT's Temerty Faculty of Medicine have partnered with CASCADES, CAPE, CANE and CFMS-HEART to create a Canadian-wide speaker series addressing climate change and its impacts on health and our health care system. There are two more events in this series:
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Mitigating the Climate Harms of Health Care, with Jean Wilson, Ali Abbass, and Sean Christie.
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Date: May 4th, 2022
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Time: 7:00PM ET
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Patient and Planetary Health: Lessons from Indigenous Knowledge Systems with Nicole Redvers, June Kaminski, and Ojistoh Horn.
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Date: May 18th, 2022
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Time: 7:00PM ET
If you've missed previous sessions you can now watch the recordings on YouTube!
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TRANE 2022 Vision Conference: Sustainable solutions today, healthier buildings tomorrow |
Operating buildings that serve people and care for the planet is the new reality. Building owners and operators are focused on making sure their buildings are safe for occupants while also working towards ensuring they are operating sustainably.
The question is, what is the first step? What design improvements should be considered? What investments should be made to ensure a healthier and more energy-efficient building? Is a net-zero obtainable? Is my building ready for our occupants today and prepared for tomorrow?
Trane has gathered subject matter experts from across the organisation to bring you answers.
Starting May 2nd, 2022 at 10:30AM ET join them for the 2022 Vision Conference, a week-long webinar series, designed to demonstrate sustainable solutions you can implement today to achieve a healthier building for tomorrow.
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Booking for booths at IFHE 2022 now open! |
The online booking form for booths at the IFHE 2022 Congress | CHES 2022 National Conference taking place September 17-21, 2022 in Toronto ON is now open.
We encourage you to submit your contract to exhibit as soon as possible if you are interested in exhibiting in 2022 as booth space is limited!
A block of rooms is being held at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto. To receive the conference rate, mention "Congress of the IFHE 2022" when making your reservation.
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CHES 2022 Maritime Conference: Overcoming today's health care challenges
CHES Maritime Executive have decided that it is not possible to offer an in-person conference this spring. But, to ensure our members have educational opportunities, they are excited to announce that the 2022 CHES Maritime Chapter Conference will be going virtual May 2-3. The theme for this year’s conference will be “Overcoming Today’s Health Care Challenges” and will be offered free to all CHES members.
This conference will discuss standards, procedures, processes, and the challenges faced by health care facilities and how to develop positive outcomes.
The Conference will start Monday, May 2nd, 2022 with lively keynote speaker Bill Carr.
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CleanMed 2022
The Countdown is on: Less than two months until CleanMed
Join CleanMed 2022 on May 10th-12th as they envision the future of health care: A future where hospitals serve as cornerstones of sustainability, addressing inequities to build community health, wealth, and resilience.
With 24 engaging sessions – from topic-specific guidance to CleanMed’s popular flash talks – and captivating keynote and plenary talks, CleanMed draws leading national and international experts on sustainable health care as keynote speakers and session leads.
CleanMed is also offering a limited virtual registration option for those who won't be able to join in person. They will be livestream all plenary sessions and several breakout session through the CleanMed Attendee Hub.
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Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Sustainable Procurement Checklist
Join the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) for the virtual launch of the sustainable procurement checklist, a new tool designed to help the health care sector transition to sustainable procurement practices.
With this new resource, health care organisations can determine progress toward sustainable procurement best practices.
During the session, you will learn about the new checklist and its benefits. Plus, hear from GGHH members showcasing their experience developing and implementing successful sustainable procurement programs.
Date: May 4th, 2022
Time: 10:00AM ET
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RETScreen® is a Clean Energy Management Software system for energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration project feasibility analysis as well as ongoing energy performance analysis.
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Have you registered as an organ donor?
Contact your local organ donation agency and speak to your family about your wishes. You have the power to save and transform lives.
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The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is Canada’s premier green health care resource network, leading the evolution of green in Canada’s health sector as a national voice and catalyst for environmental change. www.greenhealthcare.ca
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Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service. |
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