The benefits of building green hospitals

The benefits of green buildings continue to stack up. Designing or building green hospitals, has a range of benefits for operators, patients, carers and the environment including:

Healthier places to heal

World Green Building Council’s Business Case for Green Building (2013) outlines a range of international studies have confirmed that green healthcare facilities provide better patient care and reduce the length of stay required in hospital.

• 8.5% reduction in hospital stays
• 15% faster recovery rates
• 22% reduction in need for pain medication
• 11% reduction in secondary infections.

If you have a patient who has a very positive journey, based on an environment where they feel comfortable, and their needs are met not just on a clinical level but are also supported at a social and spiritual level, they're [sic] care journey will be optimised.

Project Director, Megan Gray

The Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne is dedicated to providing world-class medical treatment and supportive care for cancer patients and their families. The eight level centre emphasises wellness and patient wellbeing and is the first certified Green Star – Healthcare v1 project in Victoria. Read more in our Olivia Newton-John Wellness centre case study.

Market recognition A green building not only enhances the marketability of a building project, but of the entire organisation. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ report, Green Value: Growing Buildings, Growing Assets (2006) found that green building practices are more likely to attract grants and subsidies that demonstrate environmental stewardship, increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Beauty in Building: Measuring the Impact of Spaces That Make Us Feel Fully Alive and That Inspire (2012) has found that buildings considered aesthetically superior (and had the awards to prove it) also have a wider range of environmental attributes. People around the world perceive green buildings as modern and ethical – and companies, councils, governments and community organisations associated with green buildings benefit from these perceptions through community pride, satisfaction and well-being.

Leadership in the community

Building green is a clear expression of commitment to the environment. Increasingly, people around the world perceive green buildings as modern and ethical – and companies, councils, governments and community organisations associated with green buildings benefit from these perceptions through community pride, satisfaction and well-being.

Australia’s first Green Star-rated healthcare facility, the Flinders Medical Centre New South Wing in Adelaide, houses women’s health services and has been designed to deliver high-quality patient care with a minimal environmental footprint. Learn more about Flinders Medical Centre – New South Wing.

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