MANITOULIN—The Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) is among 15 hospitals who are receiving funding to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and redirect savings into patient care across the province.
“There is some energy funding that has been provided through the HEEP (Hospital Energy Efficiency Program) that we had applied for and will now be receiving,” said Derek Graham, chief executive officer of the MHC, last week. “We had applied for funding things like HVAC and boilers in this round of funding under the program.”
“We will benefit with more energy efficiencies through the funding,” said Mr. Graham.
Ontario is investing in hospitals to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and redirect savings into patient care across the province.
The Hospital Energy Efficiency Program will help hospitals save energy and encourage the use of more renewable energy technologies. North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) hospitals are receiving $7.4 million in funding for 20 energy-efficiency projects.
“The (HEEP) program is another example of the government’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our health care system,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, in a release. “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.”
The MHC will receive $45,444 in funding for HVAC, and lighting projects.
This year, Ontario is funding 180 projects at 98 hospitals across the province, including 117 heating, ventilation 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.
“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,” said Chris Ballard, minister of the environment and climate change.
