Sustainable Hospital Designe 3

Without question, building construction has a significant impact on the environment, not only in terms of how it alters the landscape, but also in terms of material and energy consumption and waste generation. Consider these numbers: over 65 per cent of the US' electricity is consumed by building construction and occupancy. Globally, more than 40 per cent of the earth's raw materials are consumed in the name of building construction and occupancy

Statistics like these are responsible for the world's burgeoning interest in sustainable design and construction. Individuals and corporations are making a concerted effort to learn how to create buildings utilising sustainable technology, renewable resources and systems designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions

There's no better place to implement these principles than in the design and construction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Hospitals generate vast amounts of waste material in the form of food, paper and plastics, the majority of which is not recycled. As a building type, hospitals are relatively heavy users of materials, energy and water. Not only does this heavy usage drive up the cost of construction of most hospitals, it also results in increased operational expenses over the lifetime of the building, especially as the cost of natural resources continues to skyrocket

Of course, research has also shown that environment aids the healing process. Healthier buildings lead to healthier patients and staff