EPP Issues & Resources

Green Buildings

The Green Guide for Healthcare Construction was created to provide resources, guidance and recognition to organizations that engage in environmental stewardship and that lead the healthcare industry toward high performance healing environments. The goals of the guidance statement for Green Healthcare Construction are to:

  • Protect the immediate health of building occupants.
  • Protect the health of the surrounding community.
  • Protect the health of the global community and natural resources.

The Green Guide was built on the LEED™ framework, modified in order to meet the structural, usage and regulatory challenges for healthcare. The Green Guide is also a benchmark continuous improvement tool that facilities may use throughout all phases of construction, leading to credits assigned for specific accomplishments.

Consorta supports environmentally-preferable building strategies and the Green Guide and is taking the following steps in contracting for related materials and products.

  1. Specifying for environmentally preferable products in buildings, such as certified wood, and avoid products that contain or contribute to persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs), including PVC, fire retardants, copper, and mercury. Possible contract areas:
    • Flooring
    • Wall coverings
    • Wall guards
    • Roofs
    • Ceiling tiles
    • Window treatments
    • Furniture
    • Electrical switches
    • Fluorescent lamps
    • Dental amalgam separators
    • Low/no VOC emitting products, including:
    • Interior adhesives and sealants
    • Wall and ceiling finishes
    • Flooring systems
    • Carpets
    • Composite wood and insulation
    • Furniture and medical furnishings
    • Important Note: The Green Guide also addresses other EPP issues and building operations:
      • Organic food
      • Electronic waste/take back
      • Greener cleaners
      • Avoiding latex
  2. Providing education and information for member hospitals on green building issues by sponsoring conferences, workshops, and accredited programs on Consorta’s Education Network (CEN)
  3. Developing a contract portfolio that helps hospitals meet the levels established by the Green Guide for Healthcare Construction

The Green Guide for Health Care may be downloaded free by registering at www.gghc.org.

Resources from HCWH

Healthy Building Issues

Healthy Building Guidelines

Healthy Building Resources

For information about healthy building materials on contract with Consorta, contact Laura Wenger at lwenger@consorta.com