Greg L. Roberts, AIA, CSI, CSS, ACHA Watkins Hamilton Ross, Inc.

The author, an experienced healthcare architect, specifier, and green building advocate, claims the healthcare industry has been slow to realize the rewards achieved through sustainability. He contends that hospitals are seen as important institutions in our society; however, for those institutions to maintain the respect they have earned, they need to be able to demonstrate that they are indeed a source of health for our communities, both symbolically and practically. By employing green building practices in the operation and construction of healthcare facilities, the industry can demonstrate its respect for its community and the environment.

Roberts recounts how healthcare has reacted to judicial regulations of its waste management practices and implemented energy conservation upgrades to improve its bottom line while ignoring the long-term benefits achieved from a holistic approach to environmental responsibility. He examines the five LEED elements of sustainability, including how they are interconnected, and presents some examples employed in healthcare facilities today.

The author concludes that sustainable design offers the potential benefits to the healthcare industry of reducing costs, energy consumption, and liabilities, while meeting the growing body of environmental regulations. Likewise, he points to how improved indoor environmental quality can diminish health risks, complement the healing process, and attract and retain staff. These sustainable features and practices can strengthen an institution's presence in the highly competitive healthcare market, and enhance its public image as a responsible environmental steward in the community.

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