From Guest Blogger John McMalcolm: Are Medical Clinics Getting Greener?
Deteriorating environmental conditions and rising energy prices are prompting many businesses and individuals to adopt eco-friendly practices.
An increasing number of medical clinics across the country are taking the role of community leaders in promoting environmental protection, setting a positive example for people in their communities.
So, what are they doing to make their communities greener?
Proper Waste Management
Many of the items that are commonly used in medical clinics can be recycled, including medicine bottles, surgical instruments, batteries, printer toner cartridges and others.
By recycling their waste materials, clinics can help to reduce the extraction of raw materials and pollution from manufacturing facilities and power plants. They also place recycling bins in convenient locations throughout their premises to make it easier for their visitors and employees to practice recycling.
Additionally, they are taking a wide range of measures to minimize the amount of waste they produce, such as converting to an electronic filing system to reduce the need for office supplies and using dishes instead of disposable plates and cups.
Energy-Saving Improvements
Making energy-saving improvements does not only help the green movement; it can also lower utility bills substantially.
Many medical clinics are installing incandescent light bulbs throughout their premises, which can help them save up to 75 percent on electricity costs. Programmable thermostats are another type of energy-saving devices that can be commonly found in clinics nowadays, and they can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 30 percent.
Clinics are also making a point to use Energy Star-qualified appliances.
Green Construction
All-out green buildings are becoming an increasingly popular option among practitioners who are building new clinics. These buildings are constructed in such a way that they will have minimal negative impact on the environment and provide maximum energy savings.
Many existing clinics are being retrofitted with energy-efficient doors and windows, new insulation, sealed ductwork and sustainable construction materials.
Eco-Friendly Outdoor Spaces
Practitioners are also making changes to the outdoor spaces of their clinics to make their premises more environmentally-friendly.
Some of the measures they have taken to create greener outdoor spaces include planting native plants to reduce the need for irrigation and fertilization, reducing grass cutting to minimize air pollution and planting trees strategically to provide more shade and save on cooling costs.
Encourage Eco-Friendly Transportation Practices
The types of transportation that people use to travel to and from medical clinics can also have an impact on the environment.
Some practitioners are trying to encourage their employees and visitors to adopt greener transportation practices. They are providing instructions on how to get to their clinics by public transport on their websites, offering preferred parking for those who carpool and installing bicycle racks.
Medical clinics play an important role in promoting the well-being of local communities, and they have taken their efforts one step further by being a part of the green movement.
As they lead the way in environmental awareness and protection, more and more people will do their part to make the world a safer and healthier place.
About the Author: John McMalcolm is a freelance writer who writes on a wide range of subjects, from environmental protection to recruiting on Facebook.
