Hospitals Tackle Climate Impact, Finding Savings in Sustainability

each year, teh U.S. health sector generates nearly 10% of the nationS greenhouse gas emissions. hospitals, operating 24/7, are among the biggest contributors, with constant lighting, heating, cooling, and energy-intensive machines like MRIs and CT scanners. Operating rooms are especially wasteful, relying heavily on single-use supplies that end up in landfills.

This reality inspired the Medical College of Wisconsin to establish its Center for sustainability, Health and the Environment in 2023, aiming to prevent needless waste and promote what it calls climate-conscious health care. “Energy use and materials are necessary for providing high-quality care, but we also need to identify opportunities to mitigate those impacts so we can be good stewards of our environment,” says Christa Wagner, the center’s director.

Environmentally conscious health care can also reduce costs for hospitals (and potentially save patients money). While launching new initiatives requires investment, experts compare it to installing solar panels on your roof – but on a much larger scale. “Any effort we make to conserve energy has a notable impact, both financially and in terms of emissions reductions,” says Dr. Karin Zuegge, who leads similar efforts in Madison as medical director of sustainability at UW Health.

Practice Greenhealth, which assists health care organizations in implementing sustainable operations, reported that hospitals’ investments in energy efficiency saved over $203 million in 2024.