Looking for ways to go green? To make the sustainability shift? To reduce your carbon footprint?
Then you've come to the right place!
From increasing our lifespans to making us more comfortable, the science, technologies, and advanced practices that are the foundations of healthcare give us so much. But they also create some major side effects, including:
- hazardous and material waste
- tons of Greenhouse Gas emissions, and
- the use of copious amounts of energy, water, fuels, metals, lumber, and other resources.
These side effects contribute to the overall deterioration of that most basic thing we all need to be healthy: the ecosystem.
The Lower Mainland Health Authorities are already leaders in social sustainability, with all kinds of medical innovations for our patients, clients, and communities. Now we need you to help us lead in environmental sustainability too. Recently, the Lower Mainland Health Authorities all adopted new sustainability policies. To see the policy for each Health Authority go to: Resources. That's because not only do our operations depend on a health environment, they also have serious consequences for a healthy environment.
What's more, we're eager to meet our provincial government's requirements on being carbon neutral. That means the Lower Mainland health authorities must reduce our:
- paper consumption
- energy/electricity used for buildings
- PHSA automobile fleet emissions
It also means we want to broaden out our sustainability efforts into other areas including: reducing waste, alternatives to driving, energy and green buildings, sustainable purchasing and green leadership. Be sure to check out the latest news and resources pages of the Environmental Sustainability website for up-to-date information on Lower Mainland health authority sustainability initiatives and recommended resources.
Here are six easy eco-steps you can take for starters:
Turn off your lights and computer monitor if you’re out of your office for more than 15 minutes.
- Reduce the amount of paper you use.
- Bring your own mug to work instead of using disposables.
- Commute to work by transit, walking, biking, or carpooling and use the same to get around during the day.
- Email Ruth Abramson, Corporate Manager, Environmental Sustainability with your ideas and concerns.
