A Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care Initiative
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February 18, 2021
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CANADIAN COALITION FOR GREEN HEALTH CARE
For up-to-date Coalition news and resources, visit https://greenhealthcare.ca
CCGHC Spotlight
Did you know that you could be recognized as a Sustainability Champion?

The Coalition recognizes industry partners for their exemplary commitment to sustainability. Being a Sustainability Champion has its unique benefits and can help your company stand out by showcasing your commitment to supporting a sustainable Canadian health services system.

It’s time to learn more about how your company can be recognized as a Coalition Sustainability Champion. Contact our Executive Director, Neil Ritchie at neil.ritchie@greenhealthcare.ca.
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Become a member of the Coalition today!

As the leading organisation working towards green health care in Canada, we always have many projects in the pipeline. Being a member of the Coalition gives you opportunity to influence the direction of Canada’s greening health care movement

Becoming a member will grant you access to:

Networking and Peer Exchange Webinars
Quarterly Zoom webinars where we welcome members to benefit from a variety of greening-themed topics of interest to today’s greening health care champions

National Recognition and Pilot Projects
Members will be recognized nationally for their achievements and have priority access to lead and host pilot projects for green health care initiatives and innovations.

Governance and Voting
Members will be able to sit on the Board of Directors and vote on key operational and directional decisions for the Coalition at the annual general meeting.

Click the button below to learn more and become a member.
Join Health-Share, our online asset sharing platform for health care

It is with great pleasure that we announce the official launch of Health-Share, a joint sharing initiative of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (CCGHC) and FLOOW2 Healthcare in response to the COVID-19 crisis which has revealed urgent need for a national online platform to match resource supply and demand in Canada's health sector.

Health-Share is the sharing marketplace for Canadian Health Care. The platform brings resilience and flexibility to the sector by enabling health care organisations, hospitals and health-related businesses to efficiently match supply of and demand for medical devices, materials, and excess stock, while facilitating transparency and efficient matchmaking.

For more information on getting your own sharing platform, contact Neil Ritchie at neil.ritchie@greenhealthcare.ca.
FACILITY MANAGEMENT
Why facility managers can’t sell ideas to senior management

Facility managers know what they need, but have a hard time convincing their organizations to provide enough resources to deliver productive, safe facilities with minimal risk and best value. In order to get approvals for initiatives, resources and funding, managers must often conquer obstacles intrinsic to the profession. This article outlines the main challenges and how they can be overcome.
Climate Change Resources
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care has the resources you need to help your facility take action on climate change.
COVID-19
Advice for hospital EVS staff on preparing for a pandemic

An essential base of knowledge must be obtained and sustained to enable good decision-making during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental services (EVS) professionals can consider maintaining membership in the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) to stay up to date on rapidly changing data and evidence-based processes. This article provides guidance from the AHE to help keep members up to date.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launches infection control training for front line health care workers

Project Firstline is a CDC national training collaborative offering timely infection control training to front line health care workers and the public health workforce in the fight against infectious disease threats. As a key partner in this initiative, the American Hospital Association (AHA) is helping bring this critical training opportunity to the health care field and champion sound decision-making and positive behaviours in a time of crisis.
Download COVID Alert today
COVID Alert is Canada's free COVID-19 exposure notification app. It can alert you to possible exposures before you have symptoms. It is available for both iOS and Android.
GREEN LEADERSHIP
Are you looking for tools, ideas and collaborators to green your workplace?

The Green+Leaders Program is open to all employees who want to be part of this change-making community across the Lower Mainland Health Organizations. From improved recycling, to patio gardens, to Earth Day nature challenges, and much more, the Green+Leaders work in many ways to have a positive impact on the planet and their workplace. Together, they empower change.
Environmental Performance Accountability Report (EPAR) for the Lower Mainland Health Organizations

This report represents the collective work of many individuals, all of whom continue to collaborate to transform their workplaces and health care systems into thriving environments of health and wellness for staff, patients, and their families. Developed by the GreenCare Energy and Environmental Sustainability Team and in close partnership with many departments, the 2019 EPAR is an annual report that tells the story about the Lower Mainland Health Organization's sustainability successes, challenges and future opportunities. It also highlights a real need for action as we enter a new climate reality, and joint efforts to find solutions for the entire Lower Mainland health care community. 
Did You Know?
To improve awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water usage, and to encourage adoption of better environmental practices, the Coalition created the GHG+H2O Green Facility Toolkit to provide health care organisations with a specialised package of educational materials, awareness tools, and technical resources.
SUSTAINABLE FOOD
Five hints to feed your team’s Nourish Anchor Cohort application

Nourish is well into its recruitment for the next Nourish Cohort and is seemingly impressed by the diversity and quality of teams hustling to put together an Expression of Interest (EOOI)! Here are five hints to help strengthen your team’s chances of earning a planning grant and a spot in the 2021-2023 Nourish Anchor Cohort.

EOI submission deadline: Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
A circular economy of food in healthcare

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe, in collaboration with the Hospital of Niort, have concluded a three-year pilot project to implement a circular economy model of food within the healthcare sector. They have produced a project report summarising the actions and outcomes of the project.

Known as the MECAHF project, it was designed to demonstrate that a circular economy model can help reduce environmental impacts and also save money for reinvestment in healthier and more sustainable food procurement. As part of the project, the Hospital of Niort assessed the volume and composition of waste throughout their food supply chain - from procurement, through to preparation and consumption, and ultimately disposal.

A BIG thank you to SaveOnEnergy for their continued financial support for the Ontario Green Health Care Award and the Ontario Energy Behaviour Award.
EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS
Webinar: Towards safe and sustainable food contact materials in European health care

Food contact materials (FCM) play an important role in food services in health care. They are used in a range of common catering products, including food and beverage containers and cutlery and help ensure the safe delivery of food to patients and staff. There are, however, health and environmental risks from some substances used in FCM - this webinar aims to provide an understanding of these issues and present actions to prevent harm.

This webinar will:
  • Highlight the environmental and health impacts of FCM and how these issues can be addressed through sustainable procurement practices in health care.
  • Share best practices from two hospitals on finding alternatives to single-use plastic in food contact materials.
  • Inspire other hospitals and health care providers to adopt clean, circular economy practices using non-toxic and reusable materials in their food services.

Date: Thursday, March 04, 2021
Time: 5am - 6am EST/11am - 12pm CET
Symposium on climate change and the health of our communities

Climate change is now recognized as a health emergency. What can primary care providers and health professionals do to sustainably deliver care and help communities build resilience?

About the Symposium
This event will examine a variety of topics affecting patients and populations:
  • What is the evidence for health impacts of climate change?
  • What are practical opportunities to improve patient care and sustainability?
  • What can we learn from innovations in other countries?

Intended audience: family physicians, primary care providers, health professionals, students, residents, and interested health care providers.

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Time: 1:30pm - 5:25pm EST
CHES 2021 Awards - Call for nominations

CHES is seeking nominations for the 2021 awards. Members are reminded to nominate a deserving member or facility for one of these prestigious awards.

Hans Burgers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering
This award is presented to a resident of Canada as a mark of recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of health care engineering. Candidates must be members of CHES and the achievements can be either a series of contributions or one outstanding contribution.

Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities Management
This award recognizes facilities that have had outstanding success in the completion of a major capital project, an energy efficiency program, an environmental stewardship program, or in a team building exercise.

Deadline for submissions: April 30, 2021.
The 2021 ENERGY STAR® Awards - Applications due soon

The deadline to apply for the 2021 ENERGY STAR Canada Awards is fast approaching! Applications are due no later than March 5, 2021.
 
ENERGY STAR Participants in Canada deserve recognition for their excellence in promoting the most energy-efficient products and new homes in Canada. ENERGY STAR has announced the opening of their 2021 ENERGY STAR Canada Awards process and are inviting you to submit your applications soon.
CHES - 2021 Webinar series
12pm - 1pm EST

Wednesday February 24, 2021 - Refrigeration Retrofits to low GWP Refrigerants & How the Choices effect Capacity and Operation
Speaker: Jeff French; Steve McTaggart

Wednesday March 24, 2021 - Building Science 101: Understanding Building Air Leakage and the effects on Your Building Envelope
Speakers: Steven Tratt

Wednesday April 21, 2021- Understanding and Preventing Floor Covering Failure
Speaker:  Chris Maskell

Wednesday May 12, 2021 - Infection Prevention Through Design & Innovation
Speaker:  Vicky Diab, BA

Wednesday June 16, 2021 - Operating Rooms - Isolated Power Systems and Class A GFCIs in Operating Rooms
Speaker:  Amir Mojtahed, B.Eng., M. Eng.; Sonny Solanki, B.Eng.

Wednesday September 22, 2021 - Resilient Building Design for Hospitals in the Face of Climate Change
Speaker:  Gord Rajewski, R.E.T.

Wednesday November 17, 2021 - Roof Maintenance
Speaker: Ted Katsoris, B.Tech, BSS, CCCA
SCISS – Webinaires 2021
12pm - 1pm EST

Mercredi 24 février 2021 – Modernisation de la réfrigération grâce aux réfrigérants à faible PRP - Manière dont les choix affectent la capacité et le fonctionnement
Orateur: Jeff French; Steve McTaggart

Mercredi 24 mars 2021 – Science du bâtiment 101 : Comprendre les fuites d’air d’un bâtiment et leurs effets sur son enveloppe
Orateurs:  Steven Tratt

Mercredi 21 avril 2021 – Comprendre et prévenir l’inefficacité des revêtements de sol
Orateur:  Chris Maskell

Mercredi 12 mai 2021 – Prévention des infections fondée sur la conception et l’innovation
Orateur:  Vicky Diab, BA

Mercredi 16 juin 2021 – Salles d’opération – Isolation des réseaux électriques et DDFT de classe A dans les salles d’opération
Orateur:  Amir Mojtahed, B.Eng., M. Eng.; Sonny Solanki, B.Eng.

Mercredi 22 septembre 2021 - Conception d’établissements hospitaliers résilients face au changement climatique
Orateur:  Gord Rajewski, R.E.T.

Mercredi 17 novembre 2021 - Entretien des toits
Orateur: Ted Katsoris, B.Tech, BSS, CCCA
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The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is Canada’s premier green health care resource network, leading the evolution of green in Canada’s health sector as a national voice and catalyst for environmental change. www.greenhealthcare.ca 
Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service.