Hospitals have huge environmental footprints – here’s how they can be more sustainable

North Manchester General is a Victorian hospital that would benefit from a retrofit. James Scott Vandeventer, CC BY-NC-ND

Hospital visits usually involve a medical emergency or appointment. The last thing on most patients’ minds will be how the building works. We expect the lights to be on, medical equipment to work, a comfortable room temperature, healthy food, an appropriate layout with efficient routes between departments and all the other features that make the healthcare system run smoothly.

But many decisions about how hospitals will operate are made long before we enter the door – and have significant consequences for their environmental footprint.