The carbon footprint assessment of Hospitals at Ain Shams University: A First Step Toward Environmentally Sustainable medical center.

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Egypt - Ciaro - Haram

Abstract

Ain Shams University is researching and implementing strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of medical centers to reduce climate change impacts. By conducting research and implementing, Ain Shams University hopes to better understand the effects of climate change and how medical centers can play an active role in mitigating it. this work uses the EPA's Green House Gas Calculation Sheet (GHGCS) to provide the measurement of hospitals’ consumption. Transformation of those measurements to Carbon Footprint (CFP) is studied. some direct emissions equipment like boilers were excluded from the study to a shortage of information availability. The four consumption items are Electrical consumption, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), water consumption, and usage of refrigerators. The results were 8,327.0, 6,866.8, 117.9, and 9.5 a Metric Ton of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent ( MTCO2eq) respectively. The results show summation of the calculated CFP from electricity consumption and water is 8,444.9 MTCO2eq which is the total carbon emission of hospitals and medical centers. When 8,327 MTCO2eq emitted only from electrical power including the power of HVAC, that has a contribution of about 99 % of the total emissions. And the lower percentage of 9.5 MTCO2eq was observed at 0.001 %, near zero percent from using refrigerators. the study discussed the reduction of the carbon footprint of electricity consumption as the priority recommendation. Also, how health centers have a high potential to reduce the carbon footprint. Ain Shams University could start its mitigation plan with its hospitals.

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