Sechelt Hospital has been named Canada’s greenest hospital by Corporate Knights magazine.
The local hospital took first place in the magazine’s review of the 12 greenest buildings in Canada for its green features that include a geo-exchange heating system, a double envelope construction that enhances energy performance, and 78 solar panels capable of saving 21,450 kWh of energy a year.
The hospital is close to its goal of reaching a net zero carbon footprint thanks to the green additions, and more will be done in the future to help attain that goal, according to Glen Garrick, sustainability manager, transformation and innovation with facilities management for Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
“VCH is definitely very excited about the hospital. As far as energy performance, it’s the best of VCH’s entire portfolio,” Garrick said.
He noted VCH was pleased to hear of the award from Corporate Knights but said the local hospital is striving to become even more environmentally friendly.
“It’s a well-built facility, it’s performing very, very well, but we’re not resting on that,” Garrick said. “Our energy manager and the facilities manager there are working to identify areas where things can be improved.”
VCH will explore different water and energy conservation initiatives for the hospital to help raise its green score and hopefully meet its carbon-neutral target without the need to purchase carbon credits.
“We’re just looking for ways to improve and we’re looking for innovative ways. We’re not just looking for the standard low hanging fruit,” Garrick said.
Even without any improvements, the hospital’s green features were enough to impress the staff at Corporate Knights magazine, which short-listed 200 leading green buildings down to 12 and then named Sechelt Hospital the winner in the hospital category.
The second and third place hospitals chosen were St. Joseph’s Healthcare West 5th Campus in Hamilton, Ont., and Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto, respectively.
