SUSTAINABLE HOSPITAL ARCHITECTURE
An overview of sustainable hospital construction in Columbia In the 18th century, hospital constructions in Colombia were initiated in large cities, like Bogotá and Medellin, using large solariums to take advantage of the radiant light as part of the treatment of patients. These were designed as separate modules in the middle of gardens and large green areas, such as in San Juan de Dios Hospital and San Carlos Hospital, among others.
In more recent history, “sustainable hospitals” began with the construction of an experimental rural hospital ‘Las Gaviotas’ (Fig 1), founded in 1971, which secured a world award for the its contribution to the environment and sustainability. Located in Vichada, the area consists
of: a research centre; a manufacturing centre of solar equipment; a small local airport; a bioclimatic and sustainable hospital, provision of first-level medical care; a small community and a biodiverse tropical forest. The Centre derives economic support and self-sufficiency from high biomass production, which feeds the power plant. It also receives income for the manufacture and sale of solar hot water panels. The Centre and its many sustainable technological developments are also worth detailing further – of particular interest are the site’s innovative wind turbines, which convert mild tropical breezes into energy. In addition, there are solar collectors which work in the rain, and the centre also utilises ultra-efficient pumps to tap into deep aquifers. These pumps are extremely easy to operate and are hooked up to children’s seesaws (Fig 2).
Solar hot water panels have been
installed on the roofs of several hospital centres in Colombia. For example, in 1992, at the “San Pedro Claver Clinic”, 400 panels were installed for showers for patients (500 beds) and another 200 for emergency services.3 In Bogotá, the construction of gardens
on façades began for air purification in 1992. One such example included the ‘Chapinero Health Centre’. This consists of hydro-planters on the right side and a vertical garden on the left (Fig 3).4
Figure 3. Chapinero Health Centre, Bogotá.
a structure designed with wide porticos of inclined columns, inspired by the oriental pagodas. There are other areas of environmental
research in Colombia which can be applied to the hospital sector: l Since the 1990s, the use of bio-digester tanks has been implemented, for isolated rural institutions.
l The manufacture of ‘Brickarp o Bloqueplas’, started in 2008. By recycling the plastic, high-strength building blocks can be produced, which are flame retardant and thermo- acoustic.
l Production of cricket flour meat, with great nutritional properties, for patients who do not support the consumption of traditional meat. This is a more sustainable source of protein – 85% less greenhouse gases are emitted, 1000 times less water is consumed and 10 times less space is required, than traditional meat production.
l Biodegradable bags with cassava starch, (medication delivery), and biodegradable corn and pineapple dishes, (carrying food for patients).
Applying clean energy sources in the hospital setting There are a variety of different applications for clean energies, originating from renewable sources, (including solar, water, wind, marine and biomass). These renewable primary forces can be used to create hydroelectric plants, wind power plants, heat pumps, photovoltaic energy fields, thermal power plants, and others. Hospital buildings are large consumers of energy and water, as well as producing a large amount of polluting waste and toxic emissions. The objective is to create a sustainable future in the hospital field, with the use of eco-dynamic technologies that translates into less CO2
emissions.
Below are twenty key commendations to support ecological construction in the healthcare sector:
Twenty recommendations to consider for ecological construction in hospitals l Strength of construction: A hospital is a vital building. In case of catastrophe, it must be able to receive the affected population. Therefore, it must be a resistant, anti-seismic and ecological
It has
Eolic turbines
Thermal power station
Parabolic collector
Photovoltaic panels
Concave collector
Computerised reflectors
Solar energy field
Biomass boiler
Figure 2. Ultra efficient pumps are hooked up to children’s seesaws.
IFHE DIGEST 2020
Biodigestor tanks
Geothermal/geiser
Nano-antenna collectors Figure 4. Applications of clean energies from renewable sources. 91
Tidal power
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