As part of a trend that is quickly gaining ground in the health care industry, the hospitals are being designed to be environmentally friendly.
"As a major health care provider in this area, we thought it was our responsibility," said William Mazzara, a registered architect and director of facility design and construction of systems at Henry Ford Health System.
More than just planting a few trees or using less paper, they're seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the Washington-based U.S. Green Building Council, a coalition of builders, architects, government agencies and nonprofit groups.
To be certified, buildings have to earn innovation points for such actions as using nontoxic, fumeless paints and adhesives, and installing insulating and water-retentive rooftop gardens; large expanses of glass for natural light; waterless urinals; energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and using a major portion of recycled and recyclable materials.
The idea is to minimize environmental impact inside and outside of buildings.
More than 2,100 new U.S. construction projects have won LEED certification since 2000. But so far, only two hospitals -- the Lacks Cancer Center at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids and Boulder Community Hospital, Foothills Hospital in Boulder, Colo. -- have earned the certification.
Another 80 hospitals and health care facilities -- including U-M's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, scheduled to open in 2011 in Ann Arbor, and Henry Ford's new hospital, scheduled to open in 2008 in West Bloomfield -- are seeking certification.
Why so few? For one thing, the certification is for new construction and hospitals typically have long lives.
Meeting the standards also costs more and requires extensive documentation.
Henry Ford estimates that meeting the energy-efficient and environmental guidelines added between 3.5% and 4% -- about $12 million -- to the budget for the $310-million hospital it's building in West Bloomfield.
Pat Warner, U-M director of children's and women's services, estimates that building a new children's hospital to LEED-certification standards has added $15 million -- about 3% -- to its $523-million budget.
Spend now, save later
The architectural firm designing the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, also seeking LEED certification, told the Pittsburgh Business Times that energy cost savings reaped from green design could reach 30%.
"There also have been studies done that showed people recover faster and are discharged earlier in green buildings," said Taryn Holowka, communications manager at the Green Building Council.
"We made the decision" to go green "not because we are confident we will get the money out," Warner said. "We are very much committed to building the most efficient and effective institution we can be. ...
"Our hope is that the projections people are making by building according to these criteria come true."
"What better motivation will you have than to build a healthy and environmentally friendly hospital for children?" asked Kai Abelkis, environmental coordinator for Boulder Community Hospital, the first U.S. hospital to earn certification.
"Health care leaders make a commitment to 'First do no harm,' " Abelkis said.
But with 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week operations, the medical industry is the second-largest user of energy in the United States and one of the largest generators of waste, he said.
"We are beginning to recognize direct links between how we affect the environment -- inside and outside our four walls -- and health," Abelkis said.
"By creating waste and energy-reduction programs, offering organic and locally grown foods, healing gardens and more, hospitals are investing in the long-term wellness of not just their patients and staff, but the community as a whole," said Mindy Pennybacker, editor of the Green Guide.
Patient's point of view
As a patient at the Lacks Cancer Center, Anna Finkbeiner said she's benefited from some of the environmentally friendly programs. Her favorites are the food-on-demand program and the rooftop garden.
"You can order right off a menu, anything you want from steak to eggs," Finkbeiner said. "I don't have to eat when I'm not hungry. If I just want a chocolate malt at 4 in the afternoon, I can order that."
Typically, hospitals serve patients their meals at 8 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. Selections are limited and food may go to waste, since patients often have little control over the selection or when the food comes.
Finkbeiner, who has intestinal cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, often doesn't know in advance when she'll be able to tolerate food, so food-on-demand is a godsend.
"It's very patient friendly, but we also got LEED points for that because only the food that will be eaten is cooked. There is much less waste," said Micki Benz, vice president of the Lacks Cancer Center.
Finkbeiner says she likes the rooftop garden because it's beautiful. Her son moved his wedding to the garden in August when she needed surgery just days before the scheduled ceremony.
Up on the roof top
"A green roof provides insulation for both heating and cooling and helps reduce runoff into the wetlands and woodlands on the site," said Henry Ford's Mazzara. "I guess we're going back to the old sod roofs."
Henry Ford's plans in West Bloomfield include a green roof, encompassing the wetlands and woodlands surrounding the hospital in its design, reducing wastewater runoff, minimizing energy consumption, using natural light where possible, and using recyclable and other materials that result in less construction waste.
U-M expects to incorporate similar features, Warner said. But because the U-M Board of Regents approved the revised budget and plans for a new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital on Feb. 17, the U-M Medical System is still determining its detailed plans for making the hospital green, she said.
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