Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Healthcare Buildings: A Policy Framework

Abstract

The healthcare industry significantly impacts the environment due to its high usage of energy and natural resources and the associated waste generation. This study applied a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) approach to assess the environmental and social life cycles of public hospitals. One hundred twenty-four public hospitals were selected for the current study; their sustainability performance was compared with those certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The comparison revealed several factors contributing to the poor sustainability performance of public hospitals. These include inadequate management, substandard planning, political interference, insufficient staffing and funding, high energy consumption, high expenses, inconsistent healthcare policies, and conventional building designs. System thinking was leveraged, and a causal loop diagram (CLD) was developed to visualize the interdependency of the identified indicators of LCSA. Based on the findings of the study, a policy framework is proposed to guide the development of sustainable healthcare buildings. The framework includes using eco-friendly materials and techniques in construction, harnessing solar energy, improving hospital management practices, promoting public awareness about sustainability, conserving energy and water, and adopting sustainable waste management and transportation. Additionally, it emphasizes addressing social issues such as improving indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, patient safety, and security and ensuring that healthcare services are accessible and affordable. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable healthcare buildings by providing a practical policy framework for achieving sustainability in the healthcare sector.

Lighting in Hospitals - Case Study: Military Hospital of Tirana, Albania

“…The results show high energy consumption, high costs, variable healthcare regulations, poor administration, poor planning, political meddling, insufficient workforce, and traditional architectural designs. The use of eco-friendly materials, techniques in construction, solar energy, enhancing hospital operations, raising sustainability awareness among the general population, preserving energy and water, and implementing sustainable garbage disposal and mobility is crucial in order to improve patient safety, security, lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and access to economical healthcare services [16].…”