Environment

Hospitals consume a lot of energy as technological advances in the medical field call for the use of ever more information technology (IT) and large-scale diagnostic devices. And the energy needed will continue to rise in future. This not only increases the ecological footprint but also puts pressure on the financial outcome. To counteract this, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG is constantly improving its energy efficiency.

The direct energy consumption of our clinics has been calculated categorised according to energy carrier (see Table). In view of the increasing electricity consumption, the in-house generation of energy is particularly important. We have relied on the use of local CHP units with combined heat and power generation and a total output of 6.8 megawatts (MW) for more than 20 years. In 2014, almost 40,000 MWh were generated by five units; this covers around 40 per cent of the electricity we need. The advantage of combined heat and power generation is the heat produced by the CHP unit, which can be used for heating and hot water, and partially for cooling. This makes it possible for us to save approximately 10,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year, compared with a conventional energy supply. In total, the electricity consumption went up by 0.6 per cent to 101.5 gigawatt hours in the reporting period, compared to the previous year. We managed to reduce the heat consumption, on the other hand, by 9 per cent to 124.5 gigawatt hours. The main reason for this decrease is primarily the reduction in the need for heating which is related to the outside temperature.

The increasing electricity consumption of medical equipment such as CT and MRT scanners and the server rooms in our clinics also calls for more cooling. For this, we not only use electrically powered cooling machines but also absorption refrigerators which run in a very energy-efficient way with heat from our CHP units. In the winter, we use a “free chilling” system for equipment which needs to be kept cool all year round. This uses the cold outside air to chill cooling water. To cool down air-conditioned rooms, we are increasingly relying on what are known as adiabatic cooling systems, which do not need electricity (condensation cooling). To reduce emissions, we aim to pursue the Group’s use of renewable energy further wherever this appears sensible. However, at the same time, the energy supply needed to operate the clinics – and therefore to ensure the safety of our patients – must be guaranteed one hundred per cent at all times.

For the most part, the RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG emissions consist of CO2 produced by electricity and heat generation. In the reporting period, what are known as scope 1 emissions, i.e. emissions that are produced directly on site in the course of in-house heat and electricity generation, amounted to approximately 36,000 tons of CO2. The scope 2 emissions include all indirect emissions from external heat and electricity sourcing. In 2014, these amounted to around 35,000 tons of CO2.

The environment benefits most if the energy does not have to be generated in the first place because it is not needed. That is why all new construction projects are planned in accordance with the latest energy efficiency findings. The energy concept at the new clinic complex in Bad Neustadt, for instance, will ensure that only a third of the current energy consumption for heating is called for. Other measures are thermal construction element activation for air-conditioning purposes, or the installation of energy-saving LED lights. Old, existing buildings, on the other hand, will not undergo energy-efficient modernisation for financial reasons.

In a clinic environment, it is particularly important to ensure that the drinking water is always of an outstanding quality. We therefore monitor the water quality on a regular basis by carrying out microbiological checks that go far beyond the legal requirements. In addition, pipes which are only used infrequently are regularly rinsed as water may only remain in pipe systems for a limited period before its microbiological quality is impaired. In the reporting period, the water consumption increased by 3.3 per cent to 743,000 cubic metres. Approximately 48,000 cubic metres of fresh water are not discharged into the sewer because they evaporate, for example, in the course of adiabatic cooling. Where waste water is concerned, contamination with contrast agents and also drugs residues are specific factors. In 2014, the total waste water produced by the five locations amounted to approximately 695,000 cubic metres.

Reducing waste is an important aim of our environmental management programme. As the use of the materials generates costs both in terms of their purchase and also in terms of their disposal, this aim is relevant to us economically as well as ecologically. Each hospital has its own waste management officer to ensure professional waste management. As we pursue a comprehensive waste avoidance approach, we also rely on regular staff training in this respect. This means that on the one hand, we increase awareness of proper waste separation and disposal, while on the other hand, we also educate staff to use consumables carefully.

In our clinics, different kinds of waste are produced, some of which have to be disposed of by means of special processes and which are measured in volume or weight by means of the different disposal methods. Wherever possible, waste is collected separately and minimised through reusable or returnable packaging. In 2014, there were some significant increases in what are known as A and B waste categories – household-type waste. This was due to the more frequent use of disposable materials as a result of regulatory requirements. Due to increasing requirements with regard to the processing of materials that comes into contact with patients, disposable materials are often the better alternative, in fact sometimes even the only solution.