Cities100: Bogotá - Hospital Program Shrinks CO2, Improves Patient Experience

Bogotá has pioneered a holistic approach integrating renewable energy and environmentally friendly practices in the public hospital network in order to reduce CO2 emissions and improve patient experience.

The Challenge

Hospitals in Bogotá have a significant ecological footprint, as they not only generate hazardous waste but also use twice as much energy as conventional office buildings in the city. By adopting the holistic Green Hospital Program, the city decreases the energy use of hospitals while improving patients’ and nearby communities’ well-being.

The Solution

Bogotá is the first city in Colombia to implement the Green Hospital Program, which aims to improve the environmental performance of its public hospitals by adopting alternative sources of energy and environmentally responsible practices. In doing so, the city wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of life for patients and workers in the buildings. Bogotá is calculating the carbon footprint of its affiliated hospitals in order to establish a benchmark level for carbon reduction as well as mitigation strategies. Though the program is quite new, a number of pilot projects have already come online, such as a wind power installation at Santa Clara Hospital and solar water heater system at Suba Hospital. As a result of the new measures, there has been a 3.1% decrease in energy use in the pilot hospitals despite a 26.1% increase in services provided between 2012 and 2015. Along with energy efficiency, the Green Hospital Program focuses on public hospitals’ management of waste and green areas, and works to add green walls and community gardens, which help stabilize temperatures and improve patients’ well-being.

Environmental Benefits – The Green Hospital Program aims to better manage the hazardous waste generated by public hospitals and reduce the risk of contaminating nearby communities’ land and water.

Economic Benefits – The utilization of alternative sources of energy will reduce the hospitals’ utility bills.

Health Benefits – Installation of community gardens in hospitals helps improve patients’ psychological health.

About Cities100

In its second year, Cities100 – presented by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Sustainia and Realdania – showcases leading solutions to urban climate challenges in ten sectors, ranging from solid waste management to transportation. For the first time, this year’s publication features solutions that address the nexus of climate change and social equity.

Available online and in print, Cities100 provides stakeholders an accessible format to explore achievable solutions for climate action in cities, and will be a useful tool for relevant groups ranging from impact investors and development organizations, to mayors and city governments.  You can access the full Cities100 2016 publication online here and read more about how may­ors will de­liver the aims of the Paris Agree­ment in a fore­ward by Anne Hidalgo, C40 Chair and Mayor of Paris, here.