May 27th, 2022
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COALITION SPOTLIGHT
Thank you to everyone who attended our webinar Safety, Security & Sustainability: Towards a reusable PPE system in Canadian health care in English on Thursday, May 26th and in French on Friday, May 27th.

Thank you to our team for putting together such informative and engaging presentations. For those of you who were unable to attend, we will be posting the webinar recordings (English and French) to our website in the coming weeks and sharing the link with our registrants.

Also keep an eye out for our video project, The Way Forward is Reusable: Demonstrating Canadian opportunities for safe, secure and sustainable PPE. This video will showcase voices of health professionals across Canada, speaking on the benefits of transitioning to a reusable PPE system in health care facilities. We are also developing a guide/checklist as a resource to help health care workers take action on creating reusables, which will also be available on our website.
Upcoming Opportunities
Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing Collaborative

This fall, CASCADES will be running the Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing Collaborative – a learning opportunity based on an established spread model for Quality Improvement innovation.

Through three learning sessions (between September 2022 and March 2023) and regular check-ins, participating teams from primary care settings across Canada will receive access to and training on a number of tools that can be used to facilitate de-prescribing, switching, teaching technique, and proper disposal.

Sign up for the information session:
Date: June 14th, 2022
Time: 12:00PM ET
Call for Papers: Health service leaders and climate change - an imperative for change leadership

There is a new Call for Papers for a Leadership in Health Services (Emerald Publishing) Special Issue. This Special Issue, "Health Service Leaders and Climate Change - An imperative for Change Leadership" seeks submissions consistent with the aims of Leadership in Health Service as stated on their website, with a particular emphasis on the impact of climate change on health services leadership.

Opening date for manuscript submissions: May 18th, 2022

Closing date for manuscript submission: October 31st, 2022

For additional information or queries about this Special Issue contact: [email protected] 
Materials Matter Session 4: Government representatives and regulators

This online session will focus on the implications raised in the studies for policy makers and will focus on the implications of embodied carbon for targets in climate plans. The introductory section will include an overview of policy responses to embodied carbon in other jurisdictions.

The presenters will share the input they've received from stakeholders to help policy makers understand their interests and concerns about the potential future regulation of embodied carbon. Participants will be able to share the insights they've gained and discuss the impacts on their work as they work to reduce embodied carbon in line with local and national targets.

Date: Friday June 3rd, 2022
Time: 8:00AM - 10:00AM PT
Canadian Health Care Construction Course

If you are a health care facility manager or construction professional either working in the health care market or looking to expand into this market, this certificate could be of benefit to you.

Become one of the elite in the health care construction market by earning your Health Care Construction Certificate, giving you and your company a competitive edge when negotiating contracts with health care facilities.

The Canadian Health Care Construction Course is approved as an accredited course for Gold Seal Certification by the Canadian Construction Association.  

Date: September 21-22, 2022
Location: Toronto, ON
CLIMATE ACTION
The environmental benefits of virtual care utilization in Canada
Longwoods Publishing
Proponents of virtual care have long touted its potential to improve access to and quality of care, and to produce cost and time savings for patients.

More recently, the potential environmental benefits of virtual care have also garnered attention. These benefits derive most demonstrably from the reduction in patient travel and its associated reduction in carbon emissions, though in the longer term they may also arise in relation to virtual care’s potential to reduce facility size and improve health outcomes.

While the latter benefits are difficult to quantify at present, there is a growing number of studies that seek to measure the reduction in emissions due to avoided travel from the use of virtual care. This focus is warranted given that transportation of people and goods contributes significantly to overall health sector carbon (CO2) emissions. Reducing unnecessary journeys represents an important pathway to reducing personal travel emissions, and virtual care clearly has a key role to play in this process.
Medics perform 'net-zero' cancer operation in Solihull
BBC News
Medics in the West Midlands say they have performed a carbon neutral cancer operation, with the lessons learned on net zero procedures to be rolled out across the National Health Service (NHS).

The organisation is responsible for 6% of the country's total CO2 emissions. But, Solihull Hospital reported a five-hour keyhole procedure for bowel cancer had no overall environmental impact.

University of Birmingham said it worked with surgeons to complete the NHS' "first documented net zero operation." Measures included changing the type of anaesthetic used and monitoring how long theatre lights stayed on.
ENERGY
High-rise headaches: EV charging in Canada's condos, apartments and multi-unit residential buildings a mixed experience
Electric Autonomy

When it comes to reducing barriers to electric vehicle adoption in Canada, one of the most critical steps governments can do is to help provide access to at-home EV charging.

While this is usually not a complicated undertaking in single-unit dwellings, in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) which includes apartments, condos, strata and townhomes, the situation and the experience is quite varied for Canadian EV drivers depending on the city in which they live.

In Canada, there are no regulations in the National Building Code that require new or existing condos, apartment buildings, strata or townhomes to offer EV charging.

Provinces and territories are able to create their own building laws and codes, but none have added anything yet to support EV charging. Instead, some municipalities are provided with the latitude by their respective provinces to amend local bylaws and add regulations that will require multi-residential units to be EV-ready.

The result is that the experience and process of MURB residents getting EV charging infrastructure access is highly fragmented across Canada.
Canada Municipalities look to electrify niche works vehicles to achieve zero-emission city fleers
Electric Autonomy

Across Canada, thousands of municipal works vehicles hit the roads every day; sweeping, plowing, hauling and grooming. This necessary municipal maintenance can be one of the most costly line items in a city’s budget as well as a source of considerable local emissions.

With a greater number and variety of electric utility and commercial vehicles hitting the market every year, several cities are now trading in parts of their municipal diesel-gas fleet vehicles for cleaner and greener versions.

There are several case studies across Canada with cities taking action to electrify municipal vehicles and realize significant environmental and economic benefit from doing so.

Each of these early-adopter communities is providing valuable insight into best practices and real-world use results that will help inform other jurisdictions looking to electrify their municipal fleet vehicles.

Electric Autonomy Canada takes an in depth look at some of the cities transitioning to zero-emission fleets to understand how each is navigating the challenge and what each stands to gain.
FACILITIES
Top 100 2022 - Canada's biggest infrastructure projects
The Top 100 Projects is an annual report published by ReNew Canada, which ranks and profiles the country's largest public infrastructure projects.

This year 17 of the top 100 public sector infrastructure projects are in health care, with a combined spend of $8.9 billion. These include the Ottawa Civic Hospital, the New Hospital for Sick Children, and St. Paul's Hospital operated by Providence Health Care.
Near real-time hourly weather data is now available directly within the latest version of RETScreen Software’s Performance Analysis module. As part of our ongoing collaboration with NASA, you can now download hourly weather data for the entire surface of the planet!
EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS
#WeAnswerTheCall for environmental sustainability
How will you answer the call for environmental sustainability in your nursing role?

On Wednesday, June 1st at 1:00 PM ET, join CASCADES for a one-hour networking event celebrating the important work of nurses engaged in and environmental sustainability environmental justice within their roles.

You will hear from some of the storytellers who shared their experiences for Nursing Week and have the chance to connect and discuss with other nurses across Canada who are interested in environmental sustainability. Whether you have years of experience or are just getting started, join us and grow your connections with this vibrant community of changemakers.

If you are interested in reading the nurses’ stories about how they are engaging in environmental sustainability and environmental justice within their roles in the hospital, community, administration, education, research or in government visit the story gallery
Project 2050
Good habits start young! Take up summer challenges with your children to introduce them to the fight against climate change. Project 2050 is an initiative launched by Earth Rangers and supported by Earth Day Canada to provide an opportunity for children ages six to twelve to participate in fun challenges and collaborate with other children. They’ll take concrete actions every day to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help Canada reach its net zero targets.

Learn more and see how we can help the planet while having fun! A series of challenges will be available throughout the year and 3 have already started! By joining these challenges, you’ll discover climate-friendly habits to use every day and gain access to resources to learn more.
Canadian Boiler Society Annual Tech Fair and Golf Tournament
Join CBS for their annual Tech Fair and Golf Tournament and take advantage of the prime networking opportunity with fellow industry companies and end-users.

Take part in educational sessions, a tradeshow, the annual golf tournament, and an evening reception followed by dinner.

Date: June 28th, 2022
Location: Deer Creek Golf & Banquet facility, Ajax, ON

Go to the CBS website to learn about sponsorship opportunities, exhibit details, registrations fees, and how to register.
Sustainable radiology: Bringing climate-smart medical imaging into focus

In this session, moderated by Dr. Geraldine McGinty, two radiologists and a health care emissions researcher explore the value of data and interdisciplinary collaboration in driving climate-smart radiology practice.

Charting a course to net-zero health care emissions will require bold leadership and action from all health professionals - from the operating room to the boardroom to the radiology reading room. However, health professionals must first be engaged and educated about the climate impact of health care delivery and their roles in diminishing these impacts by advancing climate-smart health care.

Date: June 16th, 2022
Time: 11:00AM ET

Webinar: Next steps towards low-carbon central plants

Join Greening Health Care as they discuss how the transition to a low carbon future is a global challenge which is transforming the way we look at health care facilities. 

Hear the viewpoints from Ontario, Manitoba and New York and join the conversation on June 1st as the panel tackles a broad range of issues from facility design, technology and operations to capital planning, financing, procurement and performance verification.

Date: June 1st, 2022
Time: 12:30PM - 2:30PM ET

2022 Zero Waste Conference: A future without waste

Be inspired by the entrepreneurs and innovators that are making the circular economy a reality; engage with policy and business leaders from across the country; and hear from global pioneers leading the way.

With a curated program, from engaging keynote presentations and interactive sessions to new networking sessions, this year’s event offers something for everyone.

Dates: September 28th & 29th, 2022

Early bird in-person rates are available until May 31st, 2022! You can also register for their virtual option which include access to programming real time and exclusive access to conference recordings.

Booking for booths at IFHE 2022 is 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.
 
CHES, together with the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, is encouraging all event participants to consider requesting exhibition space in the GREEN PARK.

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.

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.

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.
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 
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.