As Canada advances its climate action agenda, the health care sector is making strides to reduce its carbon footprint. One major initiative leading the charge is the three-year Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, made possible with an investment from the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund. This project aims to accelerate the readiness of the Canadian health care workforce and leadership to undertake climate change mitigation initiatives that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from health care buildings such as hospitals, health centres, clinics and long-term care homes while promoting long-term sustainability.
The Urgency for Change
Hospitals and other health care buildings are among the most energy-intensive facilities in Canada. These institutions operate around the clock, requiring vast amounts of energy for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and medical equipment. Additionally, health care facilities are responsible for substantial GHG emissions due to anesthetic gases, medical waste, and fossil fuel-dependent infrastructure.
Recognizing the need for urgent action, this project focuses on tangible, evidence-based strategies that will enable health care facilities to transition toward net-zero operations. Over three years, the initiative will help health institutions learn to measure their baseline emissions, implement low-carbon technologies, and adopt greener operational practices.
Key Components
The project includes several interconnected elements designed to create a comprehensive roadmap for decarbonization:
Baseline GHG Measurement & Training
To reduce emissions, health care organizations must first measure their current impact. The project will provide training on tools such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and RETScreen to help health care professionals assess and monitor their carbon footprint. Webinars and case studies will further illustrate best practices in emissions reduction.
Implementing Solutions
To facilitate the shift toward sustainable energy use, the project will provide case studies, fact sheets, toolkits, articles, videos, and webinars on various low-carbon technologies, including heat pumps, solar energy, and electrification strategies. Additionally, guidance on securing funding for low-carbon upgrades will be made available to health care organizations. A Low Carbon Energy Networking Hub has been initiated to meet monthly to discuss important ways to develop customized low-carbon energy plans for any health care facility.
Establishing Green Teams
Green Teams play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of sustainability within health care facilities. The project supports the creation of these teams at the grassroots, corporate, and systems levels by providing guidance, resources, and case studies showcasing successful sustainability initiatives. By leveraging the collective expertise of health care professionals, green teams will drive internal change and increase awareness of low-carbon practices. A Green Team Networking Hub has been launched, where interested health care professionals can gather to share information and best practices.
Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions
One of the most potent greenhouse gases used in health care is nitrous oxide, commonly used in anesthesia. The project focuses on identifying leakage points in centralized nitrous delivery systems and implementing strategies to reduce emissions. Educational resources, policy guidance, articles, a Nix the Nitrous web portal (greenhealth care.ca/nix-the-nitrous/) and webinars will support health care facilities in phasing out or minimizing their nitrous oxide use.
Phasing Out High-Carbon Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs)
Pressurized MDIs, widely used for respiratory conditions, contribute significantly to health care-related emissions due to their reliance on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as propellants. This initiative promotes the substitution of MDIs with more sustainable alternatives, where clinically appropriate, encouraging best practice prescribing, and reducing inhaler waste, through fact sheets, articles, and webinars tailored for primary care clinics and hospitals. A Clinics Networking Hub will also be organized to explore all the project initiatives within primary care and other health care clinic settings.
A Call to Action
As Canada works toward its climate goals, health care professionals, leaders, and facility managers must take an active role in driving sustainability. This project provides a readiness roadmap for achieving net-zero health care buildings and serves as a catalyst for widespread change. By embracing these strategies, Canada’s health care sector can lead by example, demonstrating that high-quality patient care and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. The time for action is now – health care professionals can contribute to a healthier planet by championing sustainability within their institutions.
This article was submitted by The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care.
The Project overview and deliverables are at: https://greenhealth care.ca/net-zero-ready.
