The renewed focus on global warming and carbon footprint impacts all industries, including healthcare. New legislation financially penalizes buildings that do not meet carbon reduction targets. This challenge is especially difficult for the healthcare industry which is currently one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Many of the new policies include targets for healthcare institutions and non-compliance results in monetary ramifications. Therefore, these institutions must quickly determine how to meet these regulations without sacrificing patient wellness.
Many healthcare institutions have already implemented strategies to minimize their carbon footprint. Progress is being made through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and supply chain management. This program challenges the healthcare industry to think “outside of the box” to design carbon-conscious healthcare facilities without compromising quality in patient care. Attendees will be provided with an overview of states that have declared greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies or action plans. As design engineers, we will differentiate between strategies for new and existing healthcare facilities. Throughout this program, the speaker will discuss innovative design strategies to provide attendees with a better understanding of how design decisions directly correlate to a hospital’s carbon footprint.
Participants will also receive an overview of various benchmarking and design tools available to assist in making informed design decisions. These tools help to evaluate the carbon, energy, and cost impact of each design option to ensure the appropriate systems, or combination of systems, are selected.
Shannon Kaplan, PE, LEED AP is a Partner at AKF. Shannon specializes in the design and analysis of high-performance systems for buildings with an emphasis on sustainability, lighting, occupant engagement, and on-site renewable energy. She has over 20 years of experience designing numerous high-performance, net zero, and LEED® Certified projects. Shannon is a licensed engineer in 6 states.