Sustainable Hospital Designe 5

There are ways to zone a site in terms of the intensity of plant material, and the degree of maintenance and irrigation required if the facility sits on a large tract of land. What's important to note is that not every part of a hospital's open space requires a manicured lawn or trees in order to create a high-quality outdoor environment. In fact, a diverse landscape adds interest and context to most sites

Regardless of site location, thoughtful storm water collection and flow management provides an opportunity for sustainability and protection of neighbouring land. Stored water on site can potentially be used for irrigation. In some climates, however, open, standing water can pose health risks, especially if left untreated. A new wetland was created at MCR to filter run-off before discharging surface water into a nearby wildlife sanctuary

Another important site consideration is the building's placement and position, and the locations of public, service and ambulance entries to best take advantage of solar orientation. Even in low sunshine climates, buildings have a warm side and a cold side. Wind is also something to be considered because it is another factor that contributes to energy consumption, maintenance costs and user comfort and safety

Building orientation also impacts daylighting. How the sun penetrates a building and how designers manage that direct solar access is extremely important for practical purposes, and can influence LEED credits. Not only does the use of natural light in patient care and staff support areas reduce energy consumption, it also provides an important connection with nature and supports a better healing environment

Outdoor ventilation is a consideration in most climates, although it can be difficult to manage from a temperature control perspective. Most new hospitals have thermostats for every patient room. If the zone control is compensating for an open window on a hot or cold day, the overall system load is only affected at the room with the open window. The physical and psychological benefits gained by allowing fresh air to come into a patient's room are tremendous. Additionally, fresh air can improve indoor air quality