BANGOR, Maine — According to a study from The National Academy of Medicine, the health care industry is responsible for about 8.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
"We own hospitals, these large buildings. They never close; they're full of equipment that take a ferocious amount of electricity; we're always having to change the air over to ensure that things are clean and sterile inside," Northern Light Health Vice President of Facilities and Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer Tim Doak explained.
With the organization of a climate health team, and by taking steps to reduce its impact on the environment, Doak said Northern Light Health is looking to change that.
"We're part of the problem here, and we really need to find a better path forward and be part of the solution," Doak said while standing outside of Northern Light's Cancer Center in Brewer.
One of the team's biggest priorities is reducing Northern Light's carbon footprint through changes like using electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as cleaner energy sources.
"We've looked at changing facilities, making things more efficient, using less electricity, pivoting away from fossil fuel-based things," Doak explained.
Another initiative to reduce emissions from Northern Light hospitals across the state has been the elimination of desflurane, an anesthesia gas that, according to Northern Light officials, is 2,500 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
"That small change has a much larger impact, not only on our local community and community health, but just on a global scale as well," Sarah Smith, doctor of osteopathy for Northern Light, said.
Jennifer Boothroyd, manager of environmental sustainability, said it's not just about changing the way one of Maine's largest health care providers operates, but also informing people about the way climate change can impact their health.
"It's been really important that we be there to provide these educational resources to the community members we serve," Boothroyd said.
Through these community discussions and changes in operation, the climate health team at Northern Light said they hope they can make Mainers, and the rest of the world, a little bit safer from the impacts of climate change.
"Make not just our facilities more resilient to long term climate change, but also our patients and employees," Boothroyd said.