CARBON EMISSIONS OF KHOO TECK PUAT HOSPITAL

Abstract

Since the late 1900s, there have been growing concerns over the contribution of Green House Gases (GHGs) to global warming and climate change. As building sector is the major contributor, global research in building carbon emissions has gained its popularity. Among the building types, healthcare sector is found to be contributing a significant amount of carbon emissions. Based on this track record, this study aims to calculate the carbon emissions of a local hospital in Singapore. Serving on a 24-hour operation and being the newest and first Green Mark Platinum awarded public hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), was chosen as the site of interest for carbon emission accounting. Based on the data from November 2010 to October 2011, two buildings activities, namely, waste disposal and water consumption, and two green initiatives, respectively, waste recycling and solar hot water system were shortlisted for carbon emission accounting. Using GHG protocol of World Resource Institute/World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2006 guidelines and Nett Carbon Emission Factor, this study revealed that KTPH has emitted 192,273.23 tCO2-e within one year since its official opening on 15 November 2010. Waste disposal activity accounts for the highest emission amount, which is 192,201.82 tCO2-e or 99.82% of the total carbon emission while water consumption only emits 71.41 tCO2-e or 0.04% of the total amount. This study also showed that the estimated maximum carbon savings from waste recycling and solar hot water system are 105.53 tCO2-e or 0.05% and 167.41 tCO2-e or 0.09% respectively. In view of these estimations, four recommendations were made, which, if implemented, could help further reduce the carbon emissions in KTPH as well as in Singapore.