March 20, 2025 • Ella Krygiel, BOMA International
As the healthcare sector continues to roll out advanced robotics and AI-driven diagnostics built to save lives, finding the right balance between implementing this technology while cutting down on energy consumption can be challenging. The World Economic Forum determined that the global healthcare industry emits enough greenhouse gas that, if it were a were a country, it would rank as the fifth-largest emitter in the world. Due to the sector’s high energy consumption, these factors result in “wasted energy and inflated operational costs.” Operating rooms are one of the main culprits for energy waste, often running lights and ventilation systems unnecessarily, according to the World Economic Forum. Stanford Medicine further highlights that anesthetic gas desflurane has an outsized environmental footprint, with a greenhouse effect 2,600 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Since desflurane is used regularly in operating rooms, this raises broader considerations about the types of materials and practices used in hospitals and beyond.
Given these challenges, it’s crucial to explore solutions. Various energy-efficient systems are making waves for upgrading both the design and cost of healthcare real estate projects. The Anadolu Medical Center, ranked as one of the top ten sustainable hospitals by Healthcare Digital, is a leading example for its energy efficiency initiatives. Located in Istanbul, Turkey, the center received a LEED Gold certification for its design focused on energy, water and waste management. Certification programs are a useful stepping off point for improving sustainable management operations. BOMA BEST Sustainable, for example, offers several benefits including:
- Lower Operating Costs: BOMA BEST certified buildings can achieve significant energy savings, reducing operational costs.
- Water Efficiency: Implementing water-saving fixtures and practices to reduce water usage.
- Waste Management: Conducting regular waste audits and implementing recycling programs to minimize waste.
Commercial real estate industry expert Alexei Morgado, CEO & Founder of Lexawise, expands on these trends: “Modern HVAC systems with smart controls, LED lighting, and on-site renewables, such as solar panels or geothermal loops, are featured in many projects. These features lower a building’s carbon footprint and lead to significant savings during operation.” Additionally, developers can focus on properly planning the building envelope, which impacts energy needed for heating, cooling and lighting. Morgado discusses its evolution: “Building envelopes are undergoing radical reevaluation to maximize insulation and air tightness. This will raise construction costs initially but repay the operating savings during the life of a project while generating a healing environment for patients and staff.”
The building envelope, which includes all areas that interface between a building’s interior and exterior, is a major factor in determining the energy needed for heating, cooling and lighting, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Due to its impact, building envelope construction is essential for designing energy-efficient buildings. Morgado discusses its evolution: “Building envelopes are undergoing radical reevaluation to maximize insulation and air tightness. This will initially raise construction costs by 10 to 20%, but these investments are repaid through operating savings over the life of a project, while also creating a healing environment for patients and staff.” Georgia Tech’s research examined the impact of a “healthy building envelope” in more detail, highlighting the significance of “daylighting” in patient rooms to promote a more natural, therapeutic experience for those undergoing treatment.
As the demand for sustainable features in healthcare facilities grows, finding a practical balance remains a priority. Morgado shares his thoughts on how developers can achieve this balance while considering the potential impact on local housing costs: “In some markets, high-quality, sustainable construction pushes up local property values, which is rather unsavory for affordability,” Morgado says. “To counter this, developers are looking into mixed-use developments combining health services with community housing. Such models, typically enabled by public-private partnerships and targeted government incentives, can help spread the benefits of green investments.”
Mixed-use developments, which typically combine multifamily housing, offices and retail services, are increasingly being adopted for hospital settings. According to Forbes, this arrangement offers several benefits:
- Real Estate Cost Savings: Expanding operations away from central campuses.
- Proximity to Quality Healthcare: Bringing healthcare to residents’ doorsteps.
- Housing for Hospital Workers: Providing residential units for hospital staff.
Morgado adds, “Developers can leverage economies of scale and financing tools like tax credits or grants, keeping overall costs down while supporting affordable housing initiatives alongside healthcare facilities.”
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