Sostenibilità sociale e ambientale
Spain: Towards the environmentally friendly hospital
The Spanish region of Andalusia has recently launched a pioneer program to reduce the environmental impact of its hospitals that includes the elimination of toxic waste and energy saving
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The region of Andalusia, in Spain, is one of the few areas in the world where an integrated environmental management system is being developed for hospitals. It is estimated that the system will be fully implemented by 2010 and is committed to the principles set out by the EU?s Green light program, an initiative sponsored by the European Commission that promotes environmental standards on a voluntary basis.
Hospitals pollute. They are like big cities that consume and produce waste day after day. Take, for example, Granada?s Virgen de las Nieves hospital, that caters for 442,000 inhabitants and employs more than 4,400 people: in 2007 it produced more than 3,000 tons of waste.
Until recently, environmental policies in hospitals have focused mainly on waste separation. But pioneering measures are being tested in an attempt to reduce the consumption of resources and to reduce contamination.
Two such measures are the promotion of environmentally friendly buying and the elimination of mercury from hospital circuits. Traditional thermometers are being replaced by electric ones and the mercury contained in fluorescent tubes, electric blankets and other standard hospital equipment is being separated and disposed of. In Andalusia, hospitals are also reducing the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a very contaminating plastic used in serum bags and probes.
Hospitals are building on best practices and experiences from across Spain, such as a program to increase energetic efficiency by replacing traditional fluorescent tubes with energy saving light bulbs.
Signs of success
Granada?s hospital has already reduced its annual electric consumption by more than 782,000 kilowatts, which amounts to an annual savings of 50 thousand euros. It has also reduced water consumption by nearly 30% by using more efficient washing machines and tap filters.
This hospital has also launched a pioneer programme by which ecologic food is served in breakfasts and in afternoon snacks, which is having a clear positive effect on patients? health, the environment and the local food industries.
More info:
www.juntadeandalucia.es
