At Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a growing culture. Across clinical and infrastructure teams, three energy-saving initiatives are showing how everyday changes and smart upgrades can reduce emissions, cut costs, and support better patient care.
Recovering Heat, Cutting Carbon
At the heart of Vancouver centre’s energy upgrades is a major infrastructure change: the installation of a heat recovery chiller. This system captures and reuses heat that would otherwise be wasted—significantly reducing the facility’s reliance on steam heating. Combined with optimized control systems that avoid heating unused areas after hours, this project is projected to cut annual natural gas use by 13,306 GJ. That’s equivalent to reducing 655 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and saving over $140,000 in utility costs each year.
Insulation: A Quiet Efficiency Win
Over at BC Children’s and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, a similarly impactful project focuses on updating old steam piping insulation and infrastructure. Steam is essential for both sterilization and heating. The improved insulation has co-benefits: it will increase heating efficiency while at the same time, it will prevent unintentionally heating spaces, thus requiring less cooling during warmer months. Insulating 250 feet of piping and over 200 components like valves and tanks will save 6,053 GJ of gas annually, prevent 302 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and save more than $62,000. It’s a passive but powerful solution that brings long-term efficiency without ongoing maintenance.
Small Change, Big Impact: Blanket Warmer Initiative
Meanwhile, in the clinical space, PHSA – Vancouver’s blanket warmer Initiative is turning heads with its simplicity. Blanket warmers are crucial for patient comfort but often run 24/7. By turning them off during non-operational hours using timers, the energy team projects 25% energy reduction savings across 13 warmers—saving enough electricity to power a BC household for 14 months per machine, and an estimated $14,000 per year.
Dr. Maura Brown, co-chair of the BC Cancer Planetary Health Unit, sums it up:
This is a sustainable quality improvement initiative where clinical staff and the Energy and Environmental Sustainability team combine their expertise to save energy and money, without adverse impact on patient care.”
A Collective Shift Toward Sustainable Health Care
Whether it’s a high-tech chiller, behind-the-scenes insulation, or simply switching off a warmer, these projects are united by a common goal: decarbonizing health care through practical, scalable action. Together, they show that environmental stewardship can—and should—start within the walls of care.
