Ontario Reducing Carbon Footprint, Boosting Care at Hospitals
Ontario is investing in hospitals to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and redirect savings into patient care across the province.
John Fraser, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was joined by Chris Ballard, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at the Hospital for Sick Children this morning to announce the Hospital Energy Efficiency Program, which will help hospitals save energy and encourage the use of more renewable energy technologies. The Hospital for Sick Children is receiving funding for 10 energy-efficiency projects.
This year, Ontario is funding 180 projects at 98 hospitals across the province, including 117 heating, ventiliation and air conditioning projects, 35 lighting projects and 28 projects that address other energy efficiency needs at hospitals. As a result of these and other improvements, almost five megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent gases are expected to be eliminated from the environment by 2050, the equivalent to taking about 40,000 vehicles off our roads. By 2020-21, it is estimated that over $60 million will be generated in annual energy-related savings.
This program is an initiative of the Climate Change Action Plan and uses proceeds from Ontario’s carbon market to modernize facilities such as hospitals, universities, and heritage buildings.
Improving patient care at hospitals across the province is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
“The Hospital Energy Efficiency Program is another example of the government’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our health care system. These new investments will help ensure hospitals can focus on helping patients get timely access to appropriate, high-quality health care within a sustainable system.” – Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“Ontario’s actions to help hospitals fight climate change and improve energy efficiency will reduce greenhouse gas pollution, increase patient comfort and redirect savings into patient care across the province. Our Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market are working together to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and save energy costs while ensuring a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous low-carbon future for all Ontarians.” – Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
