Did you know that Earth Day is the largest environmental event in the world? More than six million Canadians—including many school-aged children—participate in an Earth Day activity in their communities. And hundreds of millions of people participate in over 190 countries around the world!

Did you know that, here at home, the Lower Mainland Health Organizations each have their own environmental sustainability policy?

Through the work of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Team we try to make the environmental themes that Earth Day inspires, real in health care.

Some of their projects, like the Recycling Renewal Program, can be seen in many acute care and health authority owned sites. Other projects, like renovations or new equipment to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings, don’t always get noticed, unless you’re the one paying our energy bills or tracking our greenhouse gas emissions.

What does Earth Day have to do with health care?

As staff employed in the health sector, we work directly and indirectly to ensure that people lead healthier and longer lives. And one of the essential ingredients to healthy human lives is a healthy planet. That’s why VCH, FHA, PHC and PHSA all developed environmental sustainability policies to make sure we live up to our responsibilities and “act as leaders with respect to environmental stewardship.”

The Energy and Environmental Sustainability team also makes sure that, as a public sector organization, we live up to the Province’s requirements that we be carbon neutral. We will be sharing more information on our CNARs in the coming months.

Want to learn more?

Sign-up to the GreenCare Community and help to make our organization a leader in environmental conservation and sustainability: https://bcgreencare.ca/user/login

The EES team work within 10 focus areas to roll out sustainability initiatives. From Water Conservation, Land and Food, to Energy Management, Active and Clean Transportation, as well as Zero Waste recycling programs and waste reduction.

Some Highlights:

• Green+Leaders: With over 260 active G+Ls across the Lower Mainland Health Organizations, this program encourages staff to bring their sustainable values to work, while getting support and training to inspire others. They are a powerhouse of volunteers, who create and innovate in areas of sustainable transportation, reducing waste and education staff about energy saving. Look out for the Green+Leaders in your department or site, they are currently working on the sustainable transportation campaign, and have lots of information about commuting options. More here: https://bcgreencare.ca/program/greenleaders

• Energy Management: Each Health Organization has a robust plan for energy conservation, which includes retrofits, energy saving features, as well as conservation behaviour. Our Energy Management team works closely with various facility management teams, procurement, energy and engineering consultants, utility energy providers and end users to identify, quantify and implement successful energy reduction projects at the four health authorities. For more information on how GreenCare supports energy savings across the health authorities, go to: https://bcgreencare.ca/turnitoff-unplug

• Clean & Active Transportation: Aims to improve, promote and establish alternative transportation opportunities. Where possible staff are encouraged to use transit, bike, walk, car-pool or ride-share. Setting up end-of-trip bike lockers and facilities across the health organizations is still a work in progress. Want to learn more and join the Lower Mainland Health Organizations Clean Commuter Challenge? More information here: https://bcgreencare.ca/CCC

GreenCare Community:

For more information on how GreenCare visit https://bcgreencare.ca/how-will-you-celebrate-earth-day and log-in <https://bcgreencare.ca/user/login> to share your Earth Day stories and read ideas on how you can participate and celebrate.