The Aga Khan University Hospital on Wednesday commissioned a biomass boiler to power its heating system, abandoning diesel as the source of energy.
Biomass is organic, meaning it is made of material that comes from living organisms, such as plants and animals.
“Organisations must consider the environmental impact of their operations and address the sources of emissions,” CEO Rashid Khalani said.
“Primarily hospitals exist to nurture human health. However, we also know that climate change increases the risk of illness. Healthcare institutions have a responsibility to nurture the well-being of the environment.”
Khatami reiterated the commitment to combat the negative impacts of climate change and achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
The biomass facility will reduce the hospital's annual consumption of diesel by 860,000 litres.
The utilisation of briquettes and other waste sources will result in substantial carbon emission reductions, with an estimated saving of more than 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
These emissions, monthly, are equivalent to driving back and forth between Nairobi and Mombasa over 700 times in an average-sized car.
The new boiler will generate steam for the hospital’s water heating, laundry, cooking, and sterilization services.
“All our new energy projects will be 100 per cent renewable. All our new buildings are also constructed in line with green building guidelines that aim to reduce emissions and make savings in energy and water usage,” AKU Vice Chancellor, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin said.
Shahabuddin said the institution was in the advanced stages of rolling out similar environmentally conscious projects.
The health sector is carbon-intensive due to energy-intensive operations and extensive supply chains and is responsible for 5.2 per cent of global emissions globally.
In other words, if the sector was a country, it would be the 6th largest emitter in the world.
