Mumbai: There is a silent “green” change taking place in many city hospitals. From generating solar power, using special insulation to cut energy losses, treating wastewater, or using sensor lights, many hospitals are taking baby steps or unleashing elaborate plans to get green certification—in silver, gold, or platinum categories—for their buildings.
On February 4, on World Cancer Day, Tata Memorial Centre’s ACTREC, Kharghar, showcased its 3-phase plan to use solar power in a big way to cut down on carbon emissions and save over Rs 1 crore a year when the plan is fully operational.
In a private hospital in the western suburbs, the authorities started with one step—installing sensor lights in bathrooms—that saved them Rs 25 lakh last year. The three Fortis Hospitals in the city have an ‘environmental, social and governance’ department each that focuses on optimising energy consumption, water usage, and correct biomedical waste management. “We managed a reduction in per occupied bed energy by 3.4per cent and a reduction in per occupied bed water consumption by 8.4per cent,” said a spokesperson.
Actrec power
“We unveiled successful solarisation of ACTREC on World Cancer Day,” said Dr Rashneh Pardiwala of the Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CERE) whose ‘Switch on Solar’ programme aims to make India’s healthcare sector adopt renewable energy. Supported by BNP Paribas India, the solarisation project’s first phase will help the cancer hub save Rs 50 lakh by the end of the first year of installation, she added. CERE’s Switch on Solar initiative has helped 50 institutions — schools, colleges, hospitals, old age homes, rescue centres.
“Hospitals like ACTREC, with their energy-intensive infrastructure, rely heavily on electricity for hi-tech diagnostic equipment, 24-hour treatment and operations, advanced research laboratories, air conditioning, and other world-class facilities,” said Dr Pardiwala. The solarisation project will help the hospital shift to a clean energy source while reducing its carbon footprint. “Beyond environmental benefits, cost savings from reduced electricity expenses will be redirected toward providing free cancer treatment, amplifying ACTREC’s capacity to support patients from marginalised backgrounds,” she added.
Slow change
The green movement in the hospital sector has been visible for the last five years, said Dr Vivek Desai of healthcare consultancy firm, HOSMAC. “It’s mandatory for medical colleges to adopt environmentally friendly technologies and be green, but it’s voluntary for the private sector,” he said. A few years back, Hitachi India Pvt Ltd completed a green makeover for All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Delhi for free by installing a rooftop solar power system and upgrading its power infrastructure to achieve a 30per cent reduction in energy consumption.
“Considering that energy-saving ways and installations help save money in the long run, private hospitals have begun investing in the greening process despite the initial high investment,” said Dr Desai. For instance, it is expensive and unhealthy for hospitals with 50 beds or more to have window or split ACs in their rooms. While the initial investment of installing a central air-conditioning system is high, costs can be recovered within three to four years. This change improves indoor air quality and use of non-toxic materials reduces indoor pollutants, creating a healthier environment for patients, staff, and visitors, according to the Indian Green Building Council set up by Confederation of Indian Industry that provides green ratings to hospitals.
“Every hospital spends 4per cent of its revenue on energy bills. If an investment helps them save even 1per cent, the savings would be in crores for a mid-sized hospital,” said Dr Desai, whose firm doesn’t take on projects that don’t aim for a silver certification from IGBC.
A necessity, not option
A study in the ‘Journal of Management Research and Analysis’ in 2020 by a team from Mewati Govt Medical College in Haryana noted that various environmentally conscious strategies could help reduce a hospital building’s operating costs by 8.9per cent, increase its value by 7.5per cent, and increase its occupancy ratio by 3.5per cent.
