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New Guidebook - Sustainable health care: A guidebook on how to incorporate gardens and greenspaces
Health care professionals have a unique opportunity to address climate change and its direct impacts on human and ecological health. Our latest guidebook provides actionable items that can be implemented within health care practices to reduce our carbon footprints while enjoying the plentiful benefits of greenspaces.
This guide was developed under the Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, made possible with investment from the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund.
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Webinar - Climate proofing your finances
Date: February 27th, 2025
Time: 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET
Join the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and PEACH Health Ontario as we welcome Tim Nash from Good Investing and Dr. Courtney Howard to discuss the powerful connection between your money and the climate.
Tim will guide you through the world of sustainable investing, teaching you how to reduce your exposure to volatile and pollution-intensive fossil fuels while minimizing personal financial risks.
Think of it as a crash course in making your money work not just for you, but also for our collective futures.
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Media Release - Join the Nix the Nitrous/Pas de protoxyde Movement in Canadian Hospitals
As part of the Coalition's Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, we have launched an initiative to help Canada’s hospitals and clinics address the environmental and health risks associated with nitrous oxide (N₂O) storage and use. This is where Nix the Nitrous comes in.
Phasing out nitrous oxide aligns with environmental conservation efforts, enhances workplace health and safety, and delivers significant economic benefits.
Through the project, our Nix the Nitrous team will provide hospitals and health care organisations with a roadmap to estimate the costs and potential savings of decommissioning their centralized system, develop a strong business case for the transition, and guide them through the final steps safely.
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Coalition Project Feature -
Healthy Capital: Sustainable Investments for Hospital Foundations
Hospitals champion health, and their investments can too. The Healthy Capital project helps hospital foundations integrate sustainable practices into their investment strategies, managing climate and financial risks while aligning with health-focused missions.
Have you ever wondered…
- How is my hospital foundation managing climate and financial risks?
- Are its investments exposed to floods, fires, or other disruptions?
- Is there a plan to align investments with health and sustainability goals?
We’re here to assist hospital foundations navigate these challenges. Learn more and download our one-pager at the project webpage below.
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Leadership Feature: Autumn Sypus | |
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Welcome to our new series, where each newsletter will feature a key member of our leadership team! For this feature, meet Autumn Sypus.
Since 2022, Autumn has been instrumental in advancing the mission of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care where she acts as Project Manager. In this role, Autumn spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering sustainability, enhancing climate resilience, and achieving net-zero objectives within Canada's health services sector.
"Over the past three years, I’ve witnessed the Coalition grow exponentially, reinforcing its distinct role as a leading voice for sustainability in health care. What stands out most is our ability to unite passionate health care professionals and drive tangible climate action in the sector.
In 2024, we expanded our impact through innovative initiatives, fostering resilience and emissions reductions across health facilities. The Coalition’s collaborative approach has never been more valuable, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. Looking ahead, I’m excited for our continued growth and deeply grateful for our dedicated network pushing this mission forward." - Autumn
Keep an eye out for our next feature!
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Welcome back to our Community of Sustainable Businesses: | |
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Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, based near Vancouver, is a major North American provider of health care laundry and linen services, including reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) barrier garments to hospitals, sub-acute and medical facilities in Canada and across mid-western, and south-western regions in the United States.
As a Clean Green® certified laundry operator Ecotex demonstrates the use of best practices for reusing, reclaiming, and recycling resources.
For more information on Ecotex, check out their website HERE.
**If your for-profit organisation has made a serious corporate commitment to making health care more sustainable, reach out to autumn@greenhealthcare.ca
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Canadian Healthcare Construction Course
Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society
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Dates: May 28th-29th, 2025
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton - 30 Fairway Rd S Kitchener, ON
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, you need this certificate. Become one of the elite in the health care construction market by earning your Healthcare Construction Certificate, giving you and your company a competitive edge when negotiating contracts with health care facilities.
Over 600 individuals have received certificates to date!
The Canadian Healthcare Construction Course is approved as an accredited course for Gold Seal Certification by the Canadian Construction Association.
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Experts call for a greener health care system
Canada's National Observer
Canada's health care sector contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than aviation and shipping combined, accounting for up to five percent of the nation's total emissions. At the recent GLOBExCHANGE conference, experts called for a national strategy to decarbonize health care facilities and supply chains. William Gagnon of the Centre for Sustainable Medicine emphasized immediate solutions, such as replacing certain anesthetic gases, enhancing sterilization to reduce single-use plastics, and switching to eco-friendly inhalers. He advocates for a Healthcare Decarbonization Secretariat to coordinate efforts between Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, aiming for a net-zero health care system.
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Climate Action Webinar
HSO and Accreditation Canada
HSO’s recently released Declaration on Climate Action outlines key actions HSO will take to support climate-resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable health care.
In case you missed it - As part of HSO’s commitment to advance climate action, the convened a 16-member Climate Action Advisory Committee to provide focused insight on HSO’s climate action journey. The committee is comprised of health care leaders, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers from across Canada dedicated to working towards climate-resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable health systems.
You can now watch the webinar recording using the link below.
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New Standard - CSA Z8008 Assessments of Health Care Facilities, Services and Building Systems
CSA Group
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The draft New Standard CSA Z8008 Assessments of Health Care Facilities, Services and Building Systems (New Standard) has been released for Public Review.
CSA Z8008 Draft is going to be available for review and comments until April 15, 2025. Please note that this site requires registration and that standards can be searched by the standard number and/or by key words.
Public Review is an opportunity for all stakeholders, including members of the public, to review the Draft New Standard and provide comments.
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Achieving planetary health through food: Eight insights for 2025
Nourish
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Nourish invites you to explore their eight insights for 2025 on shaping the future of food in health care. They continue to build and learn from their third national cohort, supporting hospitals to redesign menus and rethink food sourcing to impact human and planetary health. Nourish is leading the conversation about how food is medicine in health care for Indigenous communities, supporting the cultural dimensions of well-being and grounded in sustainability.
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Health care facilities launch nature-based programs
The REMI Network
Health care facilities are integrating nature-based programs to enhance patient and staff well-being. At Nova Scotia's QE2 Health Science Centre, a collaborative effort led to the creation of a green oasis, featuring a native pollinator garden and accessible raised beds made from recycled materials.
This initiative offers therapeutic benefits, including improved mood, cognitive function, and social connections. Patients engage in activities like indoor gardening and cooking, using produce from the garden to prepare meals for local shelters.
Additionally, the Forget For a Moment Foundation has introduced mobile, maintenance-friendly garden planters in health care settings to bring nature indoors, aiming to reduce isolation and promote health.
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“We never thought we’d save THIS much”: Big win for sustainability at the Riverside Campus
The Ottowa Hospital
In late 2022, The Ottawa Hospital's Riverside Campus implemented low-cost efficiency upgrades, leading to a remarkable 55% reduction in natural gas consumption year-over-year. This achievement translates to an annual carbon emissions reduction of approximately 964 t-CO2e, equivalent to removing 229 cars from the road for a year.
The initiative, led by Ron Drummond, Executive Director of Capital Projects and Facility Management, involved empowering front-line workers to suggest improvements, resulting in significant energy savings and an annual cost reduction of about $160,000. These funds can now be redirected to enhance patient care.
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An Astute Idea: How artificial intelligence can be used to enhance HVAC efficiency
Canadian Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities play a vital role in patient care but also contribute heavily to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As the world continues to focus on sustainability and combating climate change, it’s essential to find new solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of these spaces. Leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize HVAC systems offers a promising solution. This approach is already making an impact in Canadian health care settings, with Shannex serving as a leading example.
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Embedding low carbon resilience into cooling systems
GreenCare
In response to the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) developed a long-term cooling infrastructure strategy informed by climate projections.
Led by Kori Jones, Director of Energy and Emissions, this initiative aims to enhance patient and staff comfort while reducing environmental impact. The approach is being expanded to facilities in Richmond, with plans for Coastal and rural sites next.
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NEW! RETScreen® Expert Version 9.2 now offers direct connection to ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager | |
The RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software Version 9.2 now features RETScreen Connect, enabling automated data import and integration with ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. Developed with Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. EPA, this tool streamlines clean energy project analysis by linking data sources and simplifying updates.
Version 9.2 of the RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software platform is now available for download from the RETScreen website.
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PEACH Health Conference 2025
PEACH Health Ontario
Date: February 12th, 2025
Time: 9:00 am PST/ 12:00pm EST
Join PEACH Health Ontario for the first PEACH Health Conference 2025, an exciting in-person event at the Royal Botanic Gardens Rock Garden on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM where you can connect with and learn from experts in sustainability, Planetary Health, Family Medicine, and Knowledge Translation.
This year's theme is Environmental Sustainability in Primary Healthcare. Don't miss this opportunity to network, learn, and grow with students and professionals in the field!
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Webinar - Engineers are the Physicians of the Future
OECM
Date: February 26th, 2025
Time: 11:00 am PST/ 2:00pm EST
Dr. Taylor presents real-time data that presents strategies on improving the health of building occupants while reducing building energy consumption. We spend the majority of our time indoors, yet there is little information relating human physiology to indoor spaces. She will reveal new data on occupant health and the indoor environment, and will turn preexisting views on indoor air management, design of inhabited spaces and surface cleaning upside down! Learn how indoor spaces can truly support human health and get ready to be totally amazed by the healing potential of the built environment.
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Webinar - Climate Rounds: Desflurane needs to Des-appear
Choosing Wisely
Date: February 26th, 2025
Time: 9:00 am PST/ 12:00pm EST
At this webinar, experts will share practical steps for eliminating desflurane and promoting more environmentally sustainable changes at the provincial level.
Climate Rounds is a new webinar series by Choosing Wisely Canada that explores the health care sector’s climate footprint and efforts to minimize its environmental impact.
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Webinar - Recommissioning Hospital Ventilation, Heating and Cooling Systems
Greening Health Care
Date: March 5th, 2025
Time: 9:30 am PST/ 12:30pm EST
Join GHC for this webinar with hospitals sharing how they’re recommissioning the ventilation, heating, and cooling systems. By focusing on low-cost measures, they are uncovering valuable opportunities to reduce energy consumption, improve patient comfort, and overcome the challenges of aging facilities and tight budgets.
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Dates and Topics:
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February 26th, 2025 - Enrich Patient Experiences by Leveraging Technology and Utilizing Predictive Analytics
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March 19th, 2025 - Safety 101…According to the CSA Standards…You don’t know what you don’t know
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April 23rd, 2025 - Structural Upgrade of Pre-Code Hospital Building to Meet Modern Safety and Operational Standards
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May 21st, 2025 - CSA Z462 2024 Edition Significant Impacts for Hospitals
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June 18th, 2025 - Flooring & CSA Z8000 Canadian Health Care Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
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October 15th, 2025 - Infection Prevention and Control
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November 19th, 2025 - Improving Energy Efficiency While Saving Precious Real Estate and Reducing Operational Costs: How Wastewater Heat Recovery Helped Toronto Western Hospital Achieve All Three
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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. Learn more and register to donate HERE.
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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 | |
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. | | | | |
