Examination of green hospital concept in Afyonkarahisar

Hospitals are among the most complex and energy-intensive facilities in countries where uninterrupted healthcare services are provided around the clock, complex biomedical technologies are used, weather conditions, cooling, generator systems and medical equipment play a crucial role in healthcare delivery. This causes greenhouse gas emissions and therefore climate change. It is also one of the most important sources of waste, some of which is toxic. In fact, only 15% of medical waste generated by hospitals is hazardous to health. The remaining 85% is made up of paper, plastics, food and other materials. Compared to a hospital built in a traditional structure and continuing to function in this way, the effects of green hospitals on the environment and human health are quite high. Therefore, it is important for existing hospitals to take steps towards becoming green hospitals and for new hospitals to be built by adopting the concept of green. This study aims to evaluate the hospitals in Afyonkarahisar city centre according to green hospital criteria. Within the scope of the study, firstly, the concept of sustainability; literature information about green buildings, which are the main purpose of the concept of sustainability, and green hospitals arising from the green building concept, and information about the province of Afyonkarahisar and the hospitals in the province, which constitute the research universe, are given. The green hospital evaluation form, which was prepared in line with the information obtained from the literature, was completed as a result of interviews with the institution officials. The data obtained were analysed and recommendations were presented.