Program Highlights

Anesthetic gases are an operating room requirement that have a big impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the hospital’s carbon footprint. Virtually all the gases used during any clinical procedure are eventually discarded to the atmosphere. Inhaled anesthetics are exceptionally strong greenhouse gases and may make up 5 per cent or more of a hospital’s entire carbon footprint. Global warming, considered one of the greatest health threats of the 21st century, is linked to greenhouse gas emissions.  

Since 2018, The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Anesthesia has taken steps to address this environmental concern, without compromising patient care. They have reduced their carbon footprint by opting to use volatile anesthetics with the lowest global warming potential value, ultra-low-flow anesthesia equipment that decreases consumption of volatile anesthetics and encouraging the use of total intravenous or local-regional anesthesia to minimize volatile anesthetics consumption.

The Riverside Campus underwent a steam system improvement that brought a reduction in carbon emissions equivalent to taking 205 cars off the road and raised the campus’ ENERGY STAR score from 69 to 87. The low-cost investments to repair and tune the boilers and replace a failing heat exchanger resulted in annual savings of about $160,000 and the cost of the equipment was paid off in less than a year.

Through the leadership of the Contracting and Procurement Department, an environmental, social and governance (ESG) schedule has been included in the template of The Ottawa Hospital’s request for proposals (RFPs) to ensure that suppliers align with the organization’s ESG goals, and environmentally preferable procurement guidelines have been incorporated into policies and procedures.

The Clinical Product Sustainability Task Force has also spearheaded the transition from disposable to reusable gowns in the organization. With the support of Logistical Services, the Medical Device Reprocessing Department and clinical expertise, this initiative is anticipated to divert 273,150 gowns — or nearly 33,000 kilograms of waste — from landfill every year.