(ARA) – Sustainability and the greening of health care facilities have been hot-button topics for many years. For hospitals, “going green” can be a challenge for a variety of reasons, including building structure, internal functions and even patient needs. However, the health care industry has been tackling these issues and making important changes so that facilities become not only stewards of patients, but also stewards of the earth.

“Because of their 24-hour nature and the need for infection control, hospitals have, historically, been one of the biggest generators of waste and consumers of water and electricity in a community,” says Llora Wonder, vice president of marketing for health care products maker Medline Industries, Inc. “But hospitals are becoming increasingly more sensitive to positively impacting their communities, as well as individual patients. Plus, they recognize the long-term cost-savings of green measures. Many hospitals have now launched initiatives to conserve resources, lower their consumption costs and reduce their negative impact on the environment.”

Facilities trying to go green are focusing on two main problem areas: reducing waste and curtailing water consumption.

Wasteful ways

Hospitals’ waste is not only seen in materials thrown out but also in money spent. Hospitals generate about 6.9 million tons of waste annually, according to calculations by Slate.com’s environmental blog, “The Green Lantern.” Also, a study written by Dr. Martin Markay, a gastrointestinal surgeon at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, stated the health industry is the second-largest contributor to landfills after the food industry.

In terms of cost, although no recent tracker exists, it has been reported that hospitals spent about $44 to $68 per ton on solid waste disposal, according to a commonly cited study from 2000. The cost has spurred hospitals to introduce a number of waste reduction initiatives such as:

* Replacing disposable cups, plates and tableware in cafeterias and food service with reusable items.

* Using rechargeable batteries in equipment whenever possible.

* Reprocessing and remanufacturing certain low risk devices such as elastic bandages, pressure infuser bags, tourniquet cuffs and general-use surgical scissors.

For the facility, the added cost-savings and increased efficiency improve its overall ability to serve the community. For the community, less waste, especially potentially hazardous materials, will wind up in the local landfills.

Water damage

The American Hospital Association (AHA) reports that there are nearly 11,000 registered and community hospitals in the United States. A study on Boston-area hospitals found they used 40 to 350 gallons per patient, per day, according to EnergyStar.gov. “With the water and sewer costs of these facilities averaging over 20 percent of total utility costs, the more efficient hospitals can deliver quality patient care at lower cost,” EnergyStar.gov points out.

Hospitals use the most water in their laundry facilities. From bed linens to patient gowns, textiles are everywhere in a health care facility, making them a great way to create meaningful change and cost savings. Studies show that a hospital with more than 300 beds can use between 21 and 22 pounds of textiles per patient day, which is why doing laundry accounts for most of a hospital’s energy and water use.

Eliminating the need to do laundry isn’t feasible in a health care setting, so many hospitals are taking steps to lower the energy, water and chemicals needed to clean textiles and extend the usable life cycle of textile products. While changing the structure of the building can take years of remodeling, changing textiles and other materials within the hospital can immediately take place and effectively help hospitals become greener. Some of the changes hospitals are employing include:

* Using surgical gowns, barrier sheets and other products made from reusable, durable energy-efficient textiles, such as Medline’s PerforMAX textile line. Made from next-generation polyester, the fabric is as comfortable as cotton but provides increased strength and durability, better moisture absorbency and wicking properties, is easier to clean, more stain resistant and dries faster. All these qualities mean a hospital will spend less energy and use fewer chemicals for cleaning and drying, and will need to replace items less frequently.

* Replacing old single-use underpads – used to protect hospital beds – with high-tech versions that require just one pad to do the job of three old-style ones.

“It’s a big commitment for any hospital to join the green movement that has gained momentum in America,” Wonder says. “But ultimately, the chance to reduce costs, improve efficiency and become better stewards of not just patient health, but the planet’s health as well, make the efforts well worthwhile. In addition, just by changing the products used within the hospital, a big difference is made.”