CARBON NEUTRAL
as plants, green spaces, natural lighting, and green roofs into building designs to enhance indoor air quality and occupants’ well-being.
l Green building awareness, design, and application: increasing awareness of green building practices and implementing sustainable design principles in healthcare facility construction and renovation projects.
l Sustainable facility management practices: implementing sustainable practices in facility operations and maintenance to optimise resource use and minimise environmental impact.
l Shift to renewable energy sources: transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions.
l Green rainwater management: implementing rainwater management practices to conserve water resources and reduce runoff pollution.
l Safeguarding biodiverse natural environment: protecting and preserving natural ecosystems surrounding healthcare facilities to promote biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Challenges in going carbon neutral In developing and gearing towards decarbonisation of Malaysia’s healthcare infrastructures, the challenge of establishing mechanisms to closely monitor and calculate public healthcare building emissions is critical. The MoH is currently developing a guideline for greenhouse gas (GHG) management specifically for Malaysian healthcare facilities, covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. This effort involves identifying emission sources within MoH facilities, calculating emissions, and managing a comprehensive GHG inventory. The guideline is set to be completed by the third quarter of this year. Setting targets and tracking GHG emissions towards specific goals is crucial, as it complements ongoing emission abatement efforts and ultimately moves towards carbon neutrality. The importance of designing
sustainable healthcare facilities cannot be overstated, particularly in minimising human impact on surrounding ecosystems. A resilient site, characterised by its ability to sustain natural ecological functions and serve as a carbon sink, is essential. Recognising the intrinsic value of biodiverse natural environments as health-promoting resources, it becomes imperative to preserve and protect them. This entails safeguarding green areas within hospital sites from development and construction activities, ensuring the undisturbed continuity of surrounding habitats and ecosystems.
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Figure 4. Hospital Sultanah Maliha – The World’s First Hospital with LEED Gold Certification in Operation & Maintenance v4.0.
The MoH has been a proactive
advocate of green building initiatives, successfully certifying multiple hospitals to both local and international green building standards. Certifying a large number of healthcare facilities to green building standards across the country presents several challenges. First and foremost, it requires significant financial resources for the necessary upgrades and retrofits to meet stringent environmental criteria. Additionally, the process demands a strong commitment from all stakeholders, including facility managers, healthcare professionals, and government bodies, to prioritise sustainability amidst competing operational demands. Furthermore, the varying conditions and infrastructure across different regions add complexity to standardising green building practices nationwide, making it more difficult to achieve uniform certification across all facilities. Despite these challenges, MoH remains dedicated to expanding its green building certifications, recognising the long-term benefits for both the environment and public health (Fig 4). At the same time, raising awareness among occupants of MoH buildings and the wider public emerges as another pivotal task. Despite the growing global emphasis on sustainability, many remain oblivious to the importance of green transformation and sustainable practices. Educating stakeholders about the environmental, health, and economic benefits of adopting green initiatives is paramount. Through comprehensive educational campaigns, workshops, and outreach programs, the significance of embracing sustainability can permeate MoH facilities and communities nationwide. By engaging staff, patients, visitors, and the broader community, Malaysia can foster a culture of sustainability and pave the way for widespread adoption of green practices. In tandem with environmental
conservation and awareness-building efforts, the challenge of creating safe and healthy built environments looms large. Striking a delicate balance between sustainability and occupant well-being is imperative. Improving indoor air quality, minimising noise pollution, optimising lighting, enhancing ventilation, and regulating thermal conditions are crucial aspects of this endeavour. By integrating green building practices with evidence- based design principles and cutting-edge technologies, Malaysia can achieve sustainable healthcare facilities that prioritise safety, health, and environmental stewardship. Through collaboration among architects, engineers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders, Malaysia can chart a path toward a future where healthcare infrastructure serves as a beacon of sustainability, resilience, and holistic well-being for all. Considering Malaysia’s healthcare
infrastructures are scattered across varied regions and landforms in Malaysia, spanning rural, urban, and suburban areas, some facilities still do face some or more challenges as shown in Table 2 towards carbon neutral healthcare facility. The diverse landscape of Malaysia presents unique challenges for healthcare facilities in their journey towards carbon neutrality. In rural areas, healthcare facilities may encounter difficulties due to limited budgets and funding constraints, making it challenging to invest in green technologies or sustainable practices. Additionally, technological limitations may arise in remote regions, where access to certain green technologies or renewable energy sources may be limited. In urban and suburban areas, existing
healthcare infrastructure may not be designed to accommodate renewable energy sources or energy-efficient systems, posing challenges for retrofitting and upgrading facilities. Furthermore, effort in implementing strategies and administer policies governing healthcare
IFHE DIGEST 2025
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