A Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care Initiative
October 21, 2021
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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.
COALITION SPOTLIGHT
2020 Green Hospital Scorecard (GHS) submissions are due tomorrow - October 22, 2021

The 2020 GHS data call was made on July 28, 2021. This is a reminder for participants to reach out if you require deadline extensions beyond October 22nd.

Missed our educational webinar for participants? Click HERE to review the process details.

Feel free to contact Krishna Akella at krishna@greenhealthcare.ca if you have any questions.

Note: please disregard if you have already reached out to request an extension or if you have submitted your data
Webinar: Trends, Technology and Tips to lead to Better, Healthier Buildings
 
The Coalition is excited to announce this free webinar in collaboration with Trane Canada!
 
This webinar is for you if you deal with keeping your hospital building healthy and efficient. Topics to be covered include a look at how the health care market is facing unprecedented challenges and trends in creating healthy buildings, new standards and directions, new technologies and their comparisons, and pathways you can apply today to accomplish change that results in better performance in your operations.

Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Time: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm EDT

A BIG thank you to SaveOnEnergy for their continued financial support for the Ontario Green Health Care Award and the Ontario Energy Behaviour Award.
Leadership Series: Healthcare Supply Chain

Sustainability is a core pillar in a long-term strategy for supply chains. It is important to embed sustainability into our culture and operations and engage suppliers with our vision and targets to help achieve goals.

Who should attend?
  • Leadership Teams
  • Strategic Procurement Teams
  • Purchasing and Sourcing Teams
  • Supplier Diversity Teams
  • Sustainability Teams
  • Federal, Provincial, Municipal Health Care Officials
GREEN HEALTH CARE
Canada’s first smart hospital leverages digital devices to enhance emergency preparedness
Hospital News

Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Canada’s first smart hospital and the first net new hospital in Ontario in more than 30 years, has taken emergency preparedness to the next level.
Earlier this year, the hospital implemented a digital platform for clinical communication and workflow to become the first Canadian hospital to fully integrate its overhead communication system with smartphones using a mobile application. The smartphones allow staff to respond to emergency codes and use voice command to receive and make calls.
Article: Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health
The Lancet - Global Health

"Health is already being harmed by global temperature increases and the destruction of the natural world, a state of affairs health professionals have been bringing attention to for decades. The science is unequivocal; a global increase of 1·5°C above the pre-industrial average and the continued loss of biodiversity risk catastrophic harm to health that will be impossible to reverse. Despite the world's necessary preoccupation with COVID-19, we cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to rapidly reduce emissions." Read the full article to learn how governments can set climate targets and take action to tackle the climate emergency.
Advanced hemodialysis equipment for more eco-friendly dialysis
Springer

Health care in general and dialysis care, in particular, are contributing to resource consumption and, thus, have a notable environmental footprint. Dialysis is a life-saving therapy but it entails the use of a broad range of consumables generating waste, and consumption of water and energy for the dialysis process. Various stakeholders in the health care sector are called upon to develop and to take measures to save resources and to make health care and dialysis more sustainable. Among these stakeholders are manufacturers of dialysis equipment and water purification systems. Dialysis equipment and consumables, together with care processes need to be advanced to reduce waste generation, enhance recyclability, optimize water purification efficiency and water use. Joint efforts should thus pave the way to enable delivering green dialysis and to contribute to environmentally sustainable health care.
Sustainability Champions Program

If your organisation has made a serious corporate commitment to making health care more sustainable, you can become recognized as a green health Sustainability Champion by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (CCGHC), and gain a host of great value-add services!
ENERGY
Get ready to celebrate ENERGY STAR® DAY!
ENERGY STAR

#ENERGYSTARDay is Tuesday, October 26, 2021, and will be the sixth time that ENERGY STAR officially marks the day in Canada. The ENERGY STAR Canada team has a few things planned, and is looking forward to engaging the community once again!

Click the button below to check out the "Spotlight on energy efficiency" blog, powered by the ENERGY STAR® brand team.
Recognize and promote your outstanding environmental programs!
Canadian College of Health Leaders

The Canadian College of Health Leaders’ Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes a progressive health care organisation that has implemented organisation-wide initiatives demonstrating environmental responsibility through the reduction of energy usage, the preservation of natural resources and effective waste diversion solutions. Possible initiatives include the implementation of energy-efficient building systems and solutions, comprehensive energy and environmental awareness programs, waste management initiatives, and green procurement practices. All Canadian health care organisations are eligible for this award. Eligibility criteria and required nomination information are detailed in the links below. The nomination must include a letter of support from the chief executive officer or another C-level designate who is a CCHL member.
The National Environmental Treasure is back with three new podcast episodes

Hosted by Professor Ann Dale, WHAT THE F*** IS BIODIVERSITY explores the incredible world of biodiversity, how it provides for us in our day-to-day lives and what we can all do to protect it now.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Panel highlights EV adoption strategy, gap between have and have-not provinces, at EMC conference
Electric Autonomy

With the federal government setting a mandatory 100 per cent new zero emission vehicle sales target by 2035, every provincial and municipal government has been sent a signal: time to enforce measures to curb the climate crisis. The province of Ontario has offered rebates of between $3,000 to $14,000 towards the purchase of a new EV, but in 2018 the program was axed when Conservative leader Doug Ford was elected. The province then saw a 55 percent drop in EV sales. Through the Plug n’ Drive Used EV Incentive program, drivers can get a $1,000 rebate for buying a used EV, plus another $1,000 off if they recycle their combustion engine vehicle. This can be an opportunity for the health care workforce to increase EV adoption and take advantage of EV infrastructure at their hospitals.
EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS
Canada’s Net-Zero Economy: Securing Prosperity in a Net-Zero World

A changing climate is reshaping our world. Global climate policy is driving a transition. The global low-carbon shift is going to reshape our economy. Is Canada ready?
Join this pan-Canadian event on October 25th to find out how Canadians can secure their prosperity in a net-zero world.

Date: Monday, October 25, 2021
Time: 1 pm - 5 pm ET
Global Green and Healthy Hospitals chemicals guidance document launch

Join the launch of the brand new Chemicals Guidance Document. Developed to advise and support health care institutions in addressing the most pressing challenges they face related to hazardous chemical use, this comprehensive resource provides strategies, tools, and real world examples aimed at protecting the health of patients, staff, visitors and the community.

During the session, you will hear from the authors of the guidance document on how to use and apply the guidance document in your institution. You will also learn from two leading sustainability officers and GGHH members from different parts of the world showcasing their successful safer chemicals projects and initiatives.

Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Time: 10 am ET
Fundamentals of Sustainable Health Systems

Fundamentals of Sustainable Health Systems is a professional education program for frontline staff, administrators, and leaders within care delivery, professional, and support organisations with an interest in harnessing opportunities to achieve high quality, low carbon care.

Through interactive, transformative, and experiential learning online and in two afternoon Zoom sessions, participants will gain knowledge, develop skills, and forge collaborations that will help them advocate for and participate in a bottom-up and top-down shift toward a more environmentally sustainable health system.

Date: Thursday, November 4, 2021 to Friday, November 5, 2021
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm ET
EcoHack-a-city: Public panel event and leadership training

The EcoHack-a-city Initiative, organised with the support of the TD Ready Commitment, is a fresh and inspiring series of five events being offered across different regions of Canada.

The EcoHack-a-City initiative, an inspiring series of virtual events, aims to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to develop original solutions to major environmental challenges facing Canadian municipalities.

Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Time: 8 am - 9:30 am MT
CHES - 2021 Webinar series
12pm - 1pm EST

Wednesday November 17, 2021 - Roof Maintenance
Speaker: Ted Katsoris, B.Tech, BSS, CCCA
SCISS – Webinaires 2021
12pm - 1pm EST

Mercredi 17 novembre 2021 - Entretien des toits
Orateur: Ted Katsoris, B.Tech, BSS, CCCA

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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.