Applying a climate change lens to its buildings

The healthcare provider says it is now applying a ‘climate change lens’ to all its new construction and major renovation projects. 

From youth to scientists, demands for climate action are coming from all parts of the globe. Business as usual is no longer an option, as the impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide. In British Columbia, this means more extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and more wildfires and smoke events, as well as seasonal flooding and drought. While these climate changes are affecting human health, they’re also presenting risks to healthcare operations and infrastructure. Climate-induced failures in building systems can lead to service disruptions, temporary evacuations, and even closures, resulting in health emergencies for patients and communities.

Island Health, one of five regional health authorities in British Columbia, recognises the importance of integrating climate adaptation and resilience into critical infrastructure. In 2015, its energy management team began planning a pilot climate change risk assessment project, and selecting the facility in most need of one. After an introductory workshop, staff from a variety of departments settled on Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Vancouver Island, a 55,000 m2 hospital campus that serves 350,000 people. In order to accelerate the timeline for the pilot project, the Energy Management team issued a request for proposal for a climate change risk assessment based on the PIEVC (Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee) protocol developed by Engineers Canada. It awarded the consulting contract in December 2016 to a team of firms. Led by RDH Building Science Inc., it included McElhanney Consulting Services, Rivercourt Engineering, Prism Engineering. and Simon Fraser University.