Severance Serves as Global Model for Ecofriendly Hospitals

-International Conference Held, Severance Member of Global Green Healthy Hospital Network

On October 29 and 30, Severance Hospital played host to the Environmentally-Friendly Hospital International Conference, the theme of which was “Asian Hospitals Responding to Climate Change.” Severance has been recognized as a global leader in reducing energy consumption; at the conference, Shin Young-kook, director of Severance’s Facilities Management Team, explained to experts from various Asian countries the steps Severance has taken to become a model for eco-friendly hospitals. 

In 2013, Severance established the Building Energy Management System (BEMS), which has allowed it to save 1.7 billion won annually in gas and lighting costs. Severance is also the first hospital in Korea to adopt a Green Hospital Management System (GHMS), and it has created the “Green Severance” project, which is designed to promote environmentally-friendly practices throughout the medical campus. At the same time, Severance has joined the Global Green Healthy Hospital (GGHH) Network, which includes the participation of over 3,500 medical institutions from around the world. 

The first unit at Severance to be customized for energy efficiency was the Rehabilitation Hospital. Due to the success of this pilot project, the Green Severance Committee is currently developing its plan for making all the buildings in the medical campus environmentally friendly and energy efficient.