Co-operation on Health and Biodiversity (COHAB)

COHAB is a community of individuals and organisations working together to address the gaps in awareness, policy and action on the links between biodiversity and human health and well-being. The Initiative supports efforts to enhance human security through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the goods and services it provides. COHAB provides a platform for dialogue, promoting understanding and experience sharing, and working to build partnerships across sectors and cultural divides. Visit their website to learn more. Download their report " Connecting Global Priorities - Biodiversity and Human Health" HERE.

Recycled Blue Wrap Gives New Life as Inpatient Products

The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMC) in Burlington has been recycling its sterile blue wrap used to package surgical instruments for nearly a decade. However, up until this spring, the hospital had very little knowledge as to what happened with the seven tons of No. 5 polypropylene plastic it diverted from landfills each year. In 2016, that all changed when Monique Citro, communications specialist and sustainability coordinator for UVMC’s operating room department, began working with health care solutions company to help pioneer the company’s Blue Renew Wrap Recycling Program. Read ASHE's Health Facilities Management online story HERE.

New Software Tool Calculates Overall Costs of Green Products

Leading health care sustainability steward Practice Greenhealth, Reston Va., recently rolled out a new tool to help hospitals simplify purchasing of green products and evaluate their life-time costs compared with other market choices. The Greenhealth Cost of Ownership (GCO) Calculator is a first-of-its-kind program for the health care sector that allows hospitals and health systems to analyze costs of products, equipment and devices beyond the purchase price. The calculator also can analyze, if applicable, the cost of maintenance, water usage, energy and disposal. The free tool is available to all hospitals and health care systems. Click HERE to see if GCO is right for you.

Climate Action Incentive Program Supports Canadian Projects

As part of the  Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change , the Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) is a new Environment and Climate Change Canada program, delivering up to $218M in its first year (2019-2020), funded from the proceeds of the federal carbon pollution pricing system. Programming would be available in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick, where provinces have not committed to their own carbon pollution pricing systems. Eligible recipients would benefit from funding for projects to decrease energy usage, save money, and reduce carbon pollution. The CAIF consists of three funding streams to support projects and measures undertaken by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals (“ MUSH sector ”), and not-for-profit organizations. More HERE .

REMINDER

Draft CSA standard for Cleaning and Disinfection of Health Care Facilities now available for public review

Public review closes August 21, 2019

CSA Group has been working on an all NEW standard for cleaning and disinfection of health care facilities. In recognition that cleaning and disinfection forms the front line of defence against the spread of infections, the need for such a standard was identified over a year ago, and a new technical subcommittee was formed under the direction of the technical committee for health care facilities. This group of experts has worked for the past nine months in the preparation of the draft standard - which is now available for public review.

The Coalition encourages you to review the document and provide comment through this process as this feedback is invaluable to creating a quality, usable standard. Please also

share this message with your organisation's Environmental Services team so they too can have input into the final document. Draft standard CSA Z317.12 is now posted for public review at: https://publicreview.csa.ca/Home/Details/3487

Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program

The Government of Canada is steadfast in its belief that electrification is key to decarbonizing our transportation sector and transitioning to a low-carbon future. That is why the Government of Canada has set ambitious federal targets for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) reaching 10% of light-duty vehicles (LDV) sales per year by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. According to experts, access to localized and visible charging infrastructure is key to alleviate consumer concerns about where to charge their vehicle. To that end, the Government of Canada announced, through Budget 2019, $130 million over five years (2019-2024) to deploy a network of zero-emission vehicle charging (level 2 and higher) and refuelling stations in more localized areas where Canadians live, work and play. Support is also available for strategic projects for electric vehicle and/or hydrogen infrastructure for corporate fleets, last-mile delivery fleets, and mass transit. Details HERE.

ENERGY STAR ® Most Efficient 2020: Proposed Product Categories and Recognition Criteria

The ENERGY STAR program continues to recognize the highest performers in energy efficiency for recognized products by extending and expanding the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation for 2020. 

Energy efficiency advocates throughout North America can continue to raise the bar on energy efficiency by leveraging ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2020 product information that helps consumers find and purchase the “best of the best” among recognized product categories. Find details on the proposal and individual product criteria on the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2020 Criteria Development web page.

How Kaiser Permanente Keeps 70M square feet of flooring free of toxic chemicals

Build good relationships with vendors, and there is nothing you can’t accomplish.

Kaiser Permanente is one of America's largest nonprofit health systems. With 39 hospitals and 697 medical facilities across eight states and the District of Columbia, its large portfolio includes more than 70,000,000 square feet of flooring. And according to Jennifer MacDaniel, Kaiser Permanente principal interior designer, all approved flooring has been vetted for chemicals of concern and exemplifies the system’s environmental standards. Details HERE.

Climate Change Resources at your Fingertips

Thanks to funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Coalition is able to offer a growing list of climate change resiliency resources to help you and your organisation prepare for the impacts of climate change. Visit our Mentoring Project home page HERE to access hundreds of case studies, presentations, infographics, and government and non-government publications.

Join the Coalition's Q&A ListServ

For years, the Coalition has offered an online Question and Answer ListServ giving you access to some of the most engaged green health care stewards in Canada. Have a question about greening your health care organisation? Email kent@greenhealthcare.ca to be added or to share a question.