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As climate change and net-zero emissions become global priorities, the healthcare sector is increasingly recognizing its responsibility in carbon reduction and sustainable development. Operating rooms are among the most energy-intensive areas in hospitals due to their stringent environmental control requirements and extensive use of medical supplies. To address this challenge, Shuang Ho Hospital has actively promoted low-carbon transformation initiatives in recent years, making the operating room a key starting point for reducing healthcare-related carbon emissions and advancing sustainable healthcare.
 

Operating Rooms as a Key Focus for Healthcare Decarbonization

Studies have shown that operating rooms account for a significant proportion of a hospital’s overall carbon footprint. Sources of emissions include energy consumption from ventilation and air-conditioning systems, the use of anesthetic gases, disposable medical products, and the treatment of medical waste. Recognizing these impacts, Shuang Ho Hospital has adopted a systematic approach to reducing carbon emissions while maintaining patient safety and medical quality.

The hospital has implemented a series of measures, including optimizing operating room air-conditioning management, promoting energy-efficient equipment, reducing unnecessary resource consumption, and strengthening waste segregation and recycling practices. Through these efforts, Shuang Ho Hospital aims to achieve a balance between high-quality healthcare services and environmental sustainability.
 

Advancing Green Surgery Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The hospital has established a multidisciplinary collaboration mechanism involving physicians, nursing staff, anesthesiologists, infection-control professionals, facility management personnel, and sustainability experts. Together, they evaluate surgical workflows and identify opportunities for carbon reduction.

Key initiatives include:

• Improving the efficiency of operating room ventilation and environmental control systems.
• Promoting the appropriate use and recycling of medical materials where clinically feasible.
• Reducing unnecessary consumption of single-use supplies.
• Optimizing waste management and resource recovery processes.
• Strengthening staff awareness and education regarding sustainable healthcare practices.

Through collaborative participation across departments, sustainability principles are gradually being integrated into daily clinical operations and decision-making processes.

Data-Driven Carbon Management and Continuous Improvement

Shuang Ho Hospital has also introduced data-driven carbon management mechanisms to assess emissions generated throughout surgical procedures and identify major emission sources. By quantifying carbon footprints and analyzing resource utilization, the hospital can develop targeted reduction strategies and continuously improve operational efficiency.

The hospital emphasized that carbon reduction is not a one-time project but a long-term transformation process. Continuous monitoring, performance evaluation, and staff engagement are essential to achieving meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Moving Toward Net-Zero Healthcare

As one of Taiwan’s leading medical centers in sustainability and ESG governance, Shuang Ho Hospital continues to integrate environmental responsibility into healthcare delivery. By promoting low-carbon operating rooms and sustainable clinical practices, the hospital demonstrates that healthcare institutions can simultaneously protect human health and environmental health.

Looking ahead, Shuang Ho Hospital will continue working with government agencies, academic institutions, industry partners, and healthcare organizations to advance green healthcare innovation and contribute to Taiwan’s transition toward a net-zero healthcare system. Through practical action and cross-sector collaboration, the hospital aims to create a more resilient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible healthcare future.