Benign Energy Technologies and Financial Mechanisms for Achieving Net-Zero Emission Hospitals

This chapter aimed to review the sustainable energy technologies which can be used in hospitals minimizing their carbon emissions due to energy use as well as review the existing financial tools which can support the investments of clean energy technologies in hospitals. This study is important since it indicates the benign energy technologies that can be used for reducing the carbon footprint in healthcare organizations, helping them to increase their energy security, self-sufficiency and resilience. In order to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a serious worldwide environmental issue, climate change must be mitigated. Compared to other organisations, hospitals and healthcare institutions require a lot of energy even if they mostly rely on grid electricity and conventional fuels. Published literature indicates that several benign energy technologies have been used in hospitals in developed and less-developed countries. These include: a) energy-saving technologies, b) renewable energy technologies, c) low-carbon emission technologies, and d) technologies related with green transportation. Most of them are reliable, mature and cost-efficient. Their combined use results in lower carbon emissions in hospitals. Any remaining emissions can be offset with the existing carbon offsetting schemes. Investments in renewable energy technologies in hospitals can be facilitated by a number of different finance structures. Conclusion: Hospitals can reduce their net carbon emissions due to energy use to zero with the help of a number of safe energy technologies paired with carbon-offsetting programmes, and the current financial structures can help to facilitate and fund the necessary energy investments. It should be mentioned that some of the energy technologies mentioned in our study, including solar and wind energy technologies, can be used in healthcare facilities only when the energy source is available in satisfactory quantities located near to them. The current study contributes to the clean energy transition of hospitals reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. It indicates that the existing clean energy technologies can support energy renovation in hospitals in a cost-efficient way, helping them to promote both environmental and human health.