Extensive windows, light wells and gardens at
Miami Valley Hospital South in Ohio improve
daylighting and provide patients and staff with
the healing benefits of natural light and views.
ROI
Getting creative to balance financial,
social and environmental needs
BY MICHAEL COMPTON
38 Medical Construction & Design | November/December 2013
to produce even more than they consume.
And these are vital conversations. Healthcare
facilities are tremendous energy consumers
and generate about 8 percent of greenhouse
gases worldwide. That's a big deal when, in
America alone, air pollution from each degree
temperature increase caused by CO2 can lead
to about 1,000 additional deaths annually and
many more illnesses.1 Reducing those numbers
even slightly can make a big impact.
Talk is cheap, however, and we must balance eco-friendly dreams with our clients' fiscal
realities as they work to accommodate the
Affordable Care Act, lower healthcare costs and
remain financially solvent. Return on investment
is crucial as clients decide between high-impact
green design and more conventional methods.
It is our responsibility to make this choice easier
for clients and beneficial for the environment by
thinking creatively to holistically improve ROI
and promote long-term fiscal, social and environmental health.
www.mcdmag.com
PHOTO: CLIFF RITCHEY
Rethinking
WE ALL LOVE TO DISCUSS
SUSTAINABLE "HOSPITALS OF THE
FUTURE," USING RENEWABLE ENERGY