From gas to groceries, no aspect of life is free from rising costs. However, none are as stressful as medical expenses. The industry itself faces immense operational costs, which contribute to the expensive bills passed on to patients and insurers. Sustainability is emerging as an innovative way to address these financial pressures. Learn how green care can slash costs for both health care facilities and consumers, and how you can be part of this positive change.

The Rising Tide of Health Care Expenses

Health care expenses have been on a steep and steady incline for decades, consistently rising faster than average wage growth and inflation. In 2023, health care spending grew by 7.5% in America, which amounts to $14,570 per person or $4.9 trillion in total. Various factors contribute to the increase, including: 

• The development of new and expensive medical technologies and prescription drugs.
• A large aging population, expected to increase by 47% by 2050, that requires more specialized health care.
• The high administrative costs associated with navigating the complex system.

The rise of health care costs directly impacts household budgets across the country. Medical debt can financially ruin families to the point some people delay or even forgo necessary checkups and treatments due to fear of the final bill. Many also deal with the stress and difficult choices involved in managing a chronic condition in an expensive system. Health insurance can offer financial protection and more accessible care, but it’s an additional, costly expense. 

What Is Green Care?

Green care is a comprehensive strategy designed to help the health care industry reduce its environmental impact. Going beyond simple recycling programs, it involves sustainable building design, energy sourcing, supply chain management and waste reduction. 

Green hospitals are a great example of green care in action. From their energy-efficient design to their restorative environment, these facilities are designed to promote patient and environmental health. They’re a departure from the resource-intensive model of traditional health care, which prioritized immediate medical outcomes without considering long-term environmental or financial costs. 

How Does Sustainability Reduce Operational Costs? 

Here are some of the ways green practices save money. 

Slashing Energy Consumption

A hospital is like a city that never turns off. It consumes vast amounts of energy for lighting, climate control and lifesaving equipment. Implementing these eco-friendly measures can significantly cut electricity costs:

• Lighting updates: Replace light fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs.
• Smart systems: Automatically adjust temperatures in administrative areas after hours with smart thermostats.
• Renewable energy: Install solar panels on hospital roofs to generate clean, low-cost electricity on-site. 

Minimizing Waste Production

Health care generates a significant amount of waste, much of it from single-use products. For instance, around 16 billion injections are administered worldwide each year, and not all are properly discarded. Medical waste is bad for the environment and can be expensive to dispose of. Some sustainable practices that can lighten this financial load include: 

• Greener supply chain: Partner with suppliers to reduce plastic packaging, consider biodegradable wrapping materials or utilize reusable shipping containers. 
• Recycling and composting: Implement robust programs for nonhazardous materials, such as cardboard, glass and food scraps from facility cafeterias. 
• Device processing: Safely sterilize and reprocess certain single-use medical devices to save millions from purchasing costs. 

Conserving Water Resources

Hospitals account for around 7% of all water use in institutional and commercial facilities in America, resulting in massive utility bills. Here are some green strategies that can significantly conserve water in health care facilities:

• Water-efficient fixtures: Install low-flow toilets, sinks and showers in patient rooms and public areas.
• Advanced sterilization equipment: Invest in equipment that uses steam more efficiently or consider alternative low-water methods for sterilization. 
• Drought-tolerant landscaping: Landscape with native, drought-tolerant plants to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. 

From Better Health to Fewer Costs

The state of the environment directly affects human health. The pollution generated by energy-intensive facilities contributes to air and water quality issues in the surrounding communities. 

If a hospital relies less on fossil fuels, it generates fewer air pollutants. This can lead to lower rates of asthma and other respiratory conditions in the community, some of which require recurring and expensive health care costs, such as monthly prescriptions. 

Fewer sick people also means fewer emergency room visits and hospital admissions. That’s less use of medical supplies, such as single-use gloves, syringes and gowns, and less need for energy-intensive processes that generate substantial carbon footprints. Hospital gardens and other green spaces also add another layer of cost savings by reducing stress hormone levels and contributing to shorter hospital stays. 

All these elements create a positive feedback loop. Sustainability leads to a healthier population, which in turn lowers the long-term health care demand and costs. 

How Can You Support the Green Care Movement?

Consumer voices can shape industry practices. Here are some ways you can support this green initiative as an individual: 

• Become informed advocates: Ask specific, nonconfrontational questions, such as “I’m passionate about reducing waste. Do you have a recycling program?”
• Do your research: Look at a hospital’s website or annual community report for mentions of sustainability, green initiatives and environmental stewardship. 
• Support sustainable providers: Consider a health care facility’s environmental commitment when choosing where to receive care. 

Embracing the Value of Sustainable Health Care

Green care is a sound strategy for a healthier and more affordable future. It lowers energy bills, reduces waste-disposal fees and makes it easier to manage resources, which significantly lowers a health care facility’s operational costs. Those savings can also benefit consumers, who will reap the environmental benefits generated by the shift to eco-friendly practices. 

By supporting green care, you’re investing in a system that benefits the planet and is financially sustainable for generations to come.