Sustainable healthcare design has traditionally focused on environmentally friendly building design, interior design, sustainable material specifications and energy efficient systems design. Some institutions have also addressed management and operational improvements that help to provide improved support and well being for their patients, staff and communities. However, climate change events have extended the definition of sustainable healthcare design to now include “resiliency and mitigation”. Hospitals are studying ways to retrofit or become adaptable for better resistance to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, including storm surge and severe flooding like we experienced with Superstorm Sandy, or extreme heat events that have caused regional power outages and extended droughts. Environmental challenges and climate change events have shifted hospital administrators and state regulators focus towards a comprehensive response that includes sustainability, resiliency and mitigation planning.
A panel of four distinguished experts, including two who have recently published new books on sustainable healthcare design and practices, will address this subject in brief presentations and a through panel discussion.
