Sustainability Paradigm in Hospitals: Usage of Renewable Energy

Running head: ACADEMIC ESSAY
Academic Essay
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
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1ACADEMIC ESSAY
Introduction:
The essay aims at provides an insight into sustainability paradigm in the context of
resource use in professional workplace. In this essay, discussion about sustainability revolves
around the usage of renewable energy as an energy resource in hospitals. The renewable energy
is generated through renewable natural resources like water flows, sun, wind, geothermal heat
and organic matter. Hospitals in Australia are increasingly using the renewable energy for not
only ensuring sustainability through reduction of carbon emissions but at the same time manage
utility cost. The essay provides a description of the scenario, the stakeholders involved,
definition of sustainability and the three pillars and sustainability concerns from environmental,
social and economic point along with recommendations.
Discussion:
According to Kolokotsa, Tsoutsos & Papantoniou (2012), hospitals not only have a heavy
demand for energy but also contributes to emissions due to its 24/7 operation. The energy
requirements of the hospitals are thus higher in comparison to commercial buildings. Therefore,
the hospitals require higher quality and guaranteed supplies of electricity. Besides, higher
proportion of the ageing buildings makes the hospitals amongst one of the least energy efficient
buildings. There has thus been various energy saving measures that hospitals could adopt for its
better functioning. An increasing number of hospitals are shifting to the green energy derived
from the non-polluting, renewable, non-carbon sources like the solar, wind and the hydroelectric
projects having a lower environmental impact. The increasing cost of energy along with the
tightening regulations on the carbon emissions has made renewable energy a viable option for
the hospitals. Renewable energy is generated using the renewable resources like the geothermal

2ACADEMIC ESSAY
heat, organic matter, sun, wind and the water flows (Twidell & Weir, 2015). The renewable
energy aids the hospitals in reducing the cost of energy and thereby hedging against the increase
in price. However, the benefits of using such energy are far beyond bottom line. The use of
renewable energy source also enables the hospitals in standing out amongst the peers. It shows
the commitment of the hospital towards the community health and leadership towards the
environmental stewardship. Use of the renewable energy source reduces the impact of the
hospital operations on the emissions of the power plant thereby having positive impact on the
environmental health. Various stakeholders also make a contribution towards the process. It is
therefore necessary to identify the stakeholders involved.
There are primary as well the secondary stakeholders. The primary stakeholders’ are
those who remain directly involved in the process and include the government department and
the agencies, state regulators, energy institutions, consumer organizations and the representative
groups. On the other hand, the secondary stakeholders are those who remain effected by
outcomes but does provide an input or have interest in the procedure. These include patients,
hospital staffs, society, government and the Non Governmental Organizations (NGO).
Flint (2013) stated that communities faces enormous challenges in terms of the depletion
of the social, economic and the environmental resources. As the resources remain interconnected
so there exists no simple solution. Therefore, acting on independencies of social, economic and
the environmental elements requires adoption of newer means through undertaking systematic
action. This ensures the creation of future where nature and human society can not only coexist
but also mutually benefit thereby eliminating the abuse of natural resources. Thus, sustainability
is an aspect that focuses on meeting the current needs without negotiating the ability of the future
generations in meeting the needs. The theory of sustainability is based on the three pillars