March-April , 2021 | @ green
COver Story
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Energy Management Matrix ( Source : HSM Monthly CEM Reporting )
MoH ’ s Sustainability Programme Master Plan , making complete financial sense . For example , in 2019 , HSM saw an average of 26 per cent energy reduction compared to its baseline performance in 2015 .
This resulted in an electricity cost saving of approximately RM1.8mil over three years of 2017-2019 . Additional energy savings will be achieved this year when the chillers of the hospital are upgraded .
With much focus on energy efficiency , which accounts for the bulk of the LEED credits for Hospital Langkawi , it is essential not to forget the other green retrofit categories .
The chart below shows us the credit weightage under each category scored for HSM .
LEED Scoring Breakdown for HSM , Langkawi .
Pedestrian walkways on site allow continuous access between the staff quarters and hospital block .
EV Charging ports have been added as an effort to promote the use of electric vehicles amongst staff and visitors at the hospital .
In assessing the impact that buildings have on greenhouse gas emissions from single-occupancy vehicles , LEED for new buildings usually look at the project ’ s proximity to public transportation modes . Points are awarded for projects with better connectivity and planning for pedestrian and cycling access and EV charging stations .
However , this scenario would not be so practical in the case of an existing building . LEED tackles this through its standalone category – Location & Transportation , which requires building operators to conduct a transportation survey amongst all its occupants .
Doing this allows the project to develop strategies and promote alternative transportation and have a quantitative analysis of its effectiveness as well as gauge its occupant ’ s behaviour towards alternative transportation and formulate sustainable incentives in the long run .
By having workers quarters located nearby , with good walkability and bicycle access , HSM achieved a decent score – eight out of 15 under this category . Some hospitals located in rural areas could benefit by providing shuttle service or vanpool for their staff .
Indoor Environmental Quality
Indoor Environmental Quality is a critical element of healthcare services . As such , by attaining the LEED EBOM certification , mandatory ventilation requirements and indoor air quality for air-conditioned and naturally ventilated spaces are set per ASHRAE Standard 62.1 : Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality and the IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model ( I-BEAM ) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ).
As an existing building , this calls for a building-wide fresh air measurement exercise at all outdoor air intakes for AHUs and FCUs and a measurement of openings for naturally ventilated spaces and an audit of indoor spaces and systems conditions concerning the presence of contaminants .
While most hospitals like HSM have already been designed with sufficient ventilation and enhanced filtration such as High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing ( HEPA ) filters and filters with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value ( MERV ) of at least 13 , change to space usage over the years or lack of system audits could result in non-compliance .
Where a supply of quality fresh air into the indoor spaces is inadequate , modifications to the systems will be necessary .
Other than ventilation , the indoor environmental quality category also looks at daylighting elements , interior cleanliness , occupant comfort ( via population survey ), and a green cleaning policy .
The introduction of crucial building operational policies is another highlight of the LEED for Existing Buildings Rating Tool . These policies are mandatory and need to be fulfilled by all projects targeting certification .
Policies introduced to a certified project include Green Cleaning Policy , Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy , Site Management Policy and a Facility Maintenance and Renovation Policy .
What these policies do , in addition to setting in place clear sustainability goals for the project , is that it drives market transformation .
For example , suppose 148 hospitals seek green cleaning products and equipment that are Green Seal or , at a minimum , Sirim Eco Label certified as required by LEED EBOM . In that case , this gives a push to service providers to up their green game and develop their own business approach towards providing the right solutions .
Some hospitals , including HSM , face a little bit of a tricky spot when dealing with water efficiency . This is partly due to older water fittings that have not been selected for their low-flow rates , or Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme ( WELS ) rated fittings .
However , with slight modification such as installing aerators and replacing older fittings , an on-site measurement exercise for HSM showed an 11.4 per cent savings in indoor potable water use than a LEED baseline .
Outdoor potable water use was also significantly reduced by implementing a rainwater harvesting system that captures sufficient rainwater to compensate 79 per cent of irrigation demands .
Digital water meters are installed at the hospital to ensure continuous monitoring of water consumption and potential leakages through the submetering . This is an effort that will be emulated at all hospitals .
Energy Management System
The Pilot LEED Certification for Hospital Sultanah Maliha , Langkawi has acted as a strong testament that Malaysian Healthcare facilities can indeed be awarded internationally recognised green building certifications .
In fact , HSM can pride itself on being the first hospital in the World to be certified with LEED EBOM v4 . With a renewal required every five years , this certification certainly does not mark the end in the sustainability journey for HSM or MoH .
With the government ’ s support , concessionaire companies continue to provide support in the form of sustainability workshops and training programs to develop a green-conscious facilities management workforce .
Using HSM as a case study , the ROI on the capital cost expenditure is approximately 1.8 years . This estimate includes energy efficiency efforts , on-site renewable energy installation of 80kWp solar PV panels , replacement of lights to LED type , and installation of an Energy Management System ( EMS ).
The very short ROI can be primarily attributed to zero cost improvements in operations .
Money that has been saved from the cost of electricity can then be channelled to more essential elements of a healthcare facility ’ s operations .
MoH may be leading the path in the greening of Malaysia ’ s existing buildings . Still , we are sure to see a surge in green and healthy buildings as we move towards the recovery phase from Covid-19 . Businesses look for practical ways to reduce operational costs whilst improving working conditions for employees . — @ green
Sheena Moses is from IEN Consultants Sdn Bhd - a pioneering green building consultancy in Malaysia with a specialisation in energyefficient and healthy buildings .
In fact , HSM can pride itself on being the first hospital in the World to be certified with LEED EBOM v4 . With a renewal required every five years , this certification certainly does not mark the end in the sustainability journey for HSM or MOH .”