New York City Healthcare and Hospitals Details Climate Resilience Plan, Building on Existing Efforts and Commitments
This plan fulfills a key commitment in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Sector Climate Pledge, which NYC Health + Hospitals signed in May 2022.
The climate resilience plan aligns with the Mayor's PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done long-term strategic climate plan.
The health system has already reduced its carbon footprint by 30% since 2006 and continues to work to reach its goal of a 50% reduction by 2030.
May 22, 2024
The new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital at New York City Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health Campus will be built on a 500-year-old flood plain after Superstorm Sandy caused major flooding in what was then New York City Health + Hospitals/Coney Island. was built on.
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the completion of its Climate Recovery Plan, a key milestone in its efforts to ensure the health system's infrastructure is resilient to climate change. This plan fulfills important commitments under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Sector Climate Change Pledge, which NYC Health + Hospitals signed in May 2022. This is the result of a thorough review of the health system's hospitals and post-acute care facilities. The team will examine the impacts of climate hazards such as rainwater flooding, coastal flooding, heatwaves, and wind on each facility under various levels of projected greenhouse gas emissions and associated extreme weather events due to climate change. did. We considered the impact on major facility operations such as electricity, natural gas, steam, telecommunications, drinking water, wastewater, transportation, and logistics. The plan includes installing additional emergency generators connected to critical air conditioning equipment, increasing roof and window drainage capacity, constructing additional sea walls, and installing reservoirs and green infrastructure to reduce heat island effects. We are recommending a series of infrastructure projects, including: This initiative builds on the health system's commitment to combating climate change while reducing its carbon footprint. NYC Health + Hospitals has already achieved a 30% reduction in carbon emissions since 2006 and continues its efforts to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030. The climate resilience plan aligns with the Mayor's long-term strategic climate plan in his PlanNYC: Getting Sustainability Done. .
“NYC Health + Hospitals has been committed to reducing our carbon footprint and protecting our infrastructure from climate change, and the Climate Resilience Plan is another step in addressing climate change at our facilities,” said Anna Speed, director of sustainable design and resilience for NYC Health + Hospitals. “The plan highlights vulnerabilities within our infrastructure related to climate change. Leveraging this valuable insight, we aim to integrate and incorporate resiliency projects into our 10-year capital plan. This strategic approach will enable us to strengthen our system's ability to deliver exceptional care, especially during severe weather and other climate-related emergencies, while reducing our overall carbon footprint.”
“The development of our Climate Resilience Plan, an important milestone for our organization, demonstrates our commitment to tackling the complex challenges of climate change through the efforts of our creative, hard-working and passionate team.” , said Dr. Manny Saez, Vice President of Facilities at NYC Health + Hospitals.
“As we've seen with PlaNYC, setting climate goals can make real, demonstrable progress on climate action,” said Elijah Hutchinson, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. . “Protecting residents from the effects of climate change requires a whole-of-government approach, and we commend NYC Health + Hospitals for developing a plan that complements the efforts we are making to reduce our carbon footprint. Masu.”
NYC Health + Hospitals has more than 75 buildings and 1,000 machines totaling 20 million square feet, all of which directly contribute to the health system's carbon footprint.
Solar panels on the roof of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst.
The climate recovery plan, developed over the past two years with architectural design firms Gensler and Arup Engineering, includes the following recommendations:
Utility Company Recommendations Evaluate generator capacity and increase capacity if necessary. Consider quickly hooking up an emergency generator. Ensure critical HVAC equipment is connected to a backup generator to ensure adequate redundancy. Elevate and/or waterproof critical underground and above-ground equipment if located in a flood zone. Recommendations for building enclosures Improve the drainage capacity of roof membranes and windows. Replace roof membranes, windows, and building facades at the end of their useful life to reduce wind-driven rain, improve energy efficiency, and increase patient and staff comfort. Field Recommendations: Build sea walls and rainwater harvesting systems to prevent flooding during extreme weather events. Install porous pavement and green infrastructure to alleviate water retention, such as bioswales and rain gardens.
Installing new generators at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, which is above the 500-year floodplain.
The climate resilience plan builds on several recent infrastructure investments at New York City Health and Hospitals.
The $923 million Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital opened last year on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. The hospital, which received funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after Superstorm Sandy, will have 500 additional facilities, including a second-floor water-resistant emergency department, a 4-foot-tall sea wall, and highly water-resistant equipment. Designed to withstand the storms of the year. Power, heating, cooling, and water systems on his fifth floor of the building. With the support of a Hazard Mitigation Grant from FEMA, NYC Health + Hospitals at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, South Brooklyn Health, Metropolitan, and Coler will: I have several projects in progress, such as: Seawalls and gates to protect from storm surge. Installation of backflow prevention devices to prevent overflow from sanitary systems from entering the facility. Elevation and protection of critical infrastructure such as electrical equipment and alarm systems. Install a new generator and quick-connect system to ensure your facility can operate for at least 72 hours in the event of a power outage. Upgrade boiler plants and burners at multiple sites throughout the system. By moving from consuming 5 million gallons of fuel oil per year to using primarily natural gas for its thermal energy needs, the health system can significantly reduce emissions and minimize its impact on the environment. I am. LED lighting will be upgraded at multiple sites throughout the system. Solar panels installed at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. This is the first of its kind in the medical system. This 55-kilowatt system generates enough power to light his 14 homes in New York City. Developing combined heat and power plant at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue to reduce emissions and contribute to resiliency.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Sector Climate Pledge is a voluntary commitment to:
Develop and publish a climate change resilience plan. Appoint an executive-level person responsible for reducing emissions and conduct an inventory of Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions. He will reduce the organization's emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
The health system has already achieved a 30% reduction in carbon emissions since 2006. Decarbonization often involves upgrading building infrastructure with more efficient modern systems, such as better insulation, highly efficient HVAC systems, and cutting-edge building materials. Such improvements make buildings more resistant to external climatic conditions and disasters, maintain internal conditions more effectively, and ensure patient comfort and safety. Additionally, these improvements reduce the building's energy demand, extend the operating time of emergency backup systems, and contribute to increased building resiliency.
In addition to infrastructure upgrades, NYC Health + Hospitals has reduced climate emissions through its commitment to providing plant-based meals to patients. The health system has served more than 1.2 million plant-based meals since the program began in March 2022. In addition to significant health benefits for patients, plant-based meals served in 2023 led to a 36% reduction in carbon emissions and cost savings of 59 cents per meal.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation's largest public health system, serving more than 1 million New Yorkers annually at more than 70 patient care locations across New York City's five boroughs. A strong network of outpatient, community-based primary care, and specialty care centers supports care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agencies, and MetroPlus Health Plans . All of this is supported by 11 key hospitals. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 people is singularly focused on helping New Yorkers, without exception, live the healthiest lives possible. For more information, please visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org. Stay up to date on Facebook. twitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.
