Reducing a healthcare facility's carbon footprint and taking a lead on environmental sustainability can lead to major healthcare cost savings, according to an article on the New Zealand Doctor website.
It has been estimated that healthcare produces 3 to 8 percent of a developed country’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
These emissions are generated by hospital heating, ventilation and cooling, other building energy uses such as 24-hour devices, lighting, computers, waste, health-related travel, and through the whole procurement pathway of products used in hospitals such as pharmaceuticals and devices.
The health sector can lower its carbon footprint by actioning basic changes like energy efficiency and sourcing hospital food locally to reduce transport and food miles which also supports jobs and the local economy, major determinants of health for a community.
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