LEADING THE CHARGE Health care facilities make space for zero-emission/electric vehicles BY KENT WADDINGTON
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ore than 75 of the 101 hospitals that responded to the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care’s (CCGC) 2018 Green Hospital Scorecard Survey reported that they provide charging stations for electric vehicles, while 26% of respondents offer preferred parking for low-emission vehicles. This exemplifies the Canadian health sector’s support for transition to a modern and efficient electrified transportation grid. As the network of zero-emission/electric vehicle (ZEV/EV) charging stations steadily grows on health care campuses, many facilities managers are grappling with the benefits and the challenges inherent in electrification. On the plus side, a sound electrification plan can reduce health care’s ecological footprint and align with commitments to address climate change, as well as bolster corporate
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“FUNDS SAVED FROM OTHER ENERGY CONSERVATION PROJECTS WERE COMMITTED TO THE EV PROJECT BECAUSE WE FELT THIS WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO BRING DOWN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.” sustainability plans, burnish the hospital’s image in the community and gain staff buy-in. “Electric vehicle charging stations are a visible demonstration of an employer’s commitment to sustainable business practices,” asserts Cara Clairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plug’n Drive, a non-profit organization committed to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles
in Canada. “The biggest barrier to more widespread adoption of EV technology and the associated charging grid is the lack of understanding about the significant environmental and economic benefits of using electricity instead of fossil fuels.” “Many hospitals in this country are in the dark ages when it comes to the adoption of ZEV technology,” concurs Dr. Pascal Gellrich, a
