KALAIGNAR CENTENARY SUPER SPECIALITY HOSPITAL achieves GOLD Rating under IGBC Green Healthcare Facilities Rating

Chennai, Sept 2024: The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital, located in Guindy, Chennai, has achieved the GOLD Rating under the CII Indian Green Building Council’s Green Healthcare Facilities Rating. The hospital has patient-centric healing spaces within the hospital such as yoga room, prayer & reading room. It also uses the concept of colour psychology in patient areas, administration areas, recreational areas and support areas, considering the positive effects of colours on patients & staff.
To mark the occasion, a plaque was handed over to Thiru. E V Velu, Hon’ble Minister for Public Works Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, by Mr. Ajit Chordia, Chairman, CII IGBC Chennai Chapter in the presence of Tmt Supriya Sahu IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.
The healthcare sector in India is growing at a rapid pace and contributing immensely to the growth of the quality of services. Therefore, there is an imminent need to introduce green concepts and techniques in this sector, which can aid growth in a sustainable manner. CII IGBC’s Green Healthcare Facilities Rating focuses on aspects such as handling of bio-medical waste, water efficiency, energy efficiency, reduction in fossil fuel use for commuting, consumer waste and in general conservation of natural resources.
Receiving the IGBC plaque, Thiru. E V Velu, Hon’ble Minister for Public Works Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, expressed his gratitude, saying, “It gives me immense pride to see the Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital being recognized with the prestigious IGBC Gold Rating. This achievement reflects our city and state’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare facilities and highlights our focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. By incorporating green building practices, we are ensuring a healthier future for our people and our planet. I congratulate everyone involved in making this possible and look forward to seeing more such green initiatives in Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure projects.”
The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital has created stress relieving spaces such as carom board, chess, TV room and yoga room for the physical, emotional & spiritual well-being of the healthcare workforce, thereby minimizing stress and anxiety. It has also ensured that the internal furniture and circulation area are ergonomically designed so as to ensure the comfort & safety of the occupants.
Tmt Supriya Sahu IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Tamil Nadu while addressing the gathering, said “I am pleased to see CII IGBC addressing various building typologies through their Green and Net Zero rating systems. Their innovative initiative to expand into Public Works projects demonstrates how we can effectively address environmental challenges, promote economic growth, and improve the quality of life for our citizens across the country.”
The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital segregates municipal waste generated in healthcare facilities at source, so as to prevent the waste being sent to landfills and reduce negative impact on the environment. The hospital also segregates bio-medical waste at source, so as to prevent direct exposure, thereby improving sanitation & hygiene. It also provides appropriate infection control parameters such as provision of filtration system in the Air Handling Units and entryway mats at all entrances, thereby reducing the nosocomial infections.
Speaking at the plaque handover ceremony, Mr. Ajit Chordia, Chairman, CII IGBC Chennai Chapter, said “Introducing green concepts in the healthcare sector can help hospitals reduce water and energy consumption right from day one of occupancy. The energy savings could range from 30 – 40 % and water savings around 20 – 30%. There are benefits such as improved health and hygiene, enhanced daylight, connectivity with the nature, improved health & hygiene for better infection control, faster recovery of patients by 15%, and reduction in patient stay by 41%.”
The hospital has ensured the provision of adequate & well-designed isolation rooms, thereby eliminating the risk of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI). It has also ensured the provision of adequate sanitation facilities, to reduce cross infections. The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital has adopted eco-friendly cleaning practices and has cleaning protocol in place for Outpatient wards, Inpatient wards, Specialized patient areas and high touch surfaces thereby maintaining cleanliness & hygiene and reducing the impact of Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI).
The hospital has used eco-friendly refrigerants in HVAC systems and halon-free fire suppression system in the facility, thereby minimizing negative impact on the ozone layer. The hospital has taken measures to optimise energy consumption and has incorporated measures to enhance ground water table and reduce municipal water demand through effective rainwater management.
The hospital has used certified green building materials, products, and equipment, so as to reduce dependence on materials that have associated negative environmental impacts. The project has provided electric charging facilities to encourage the use of non-fossil fuel vehicles, thereby reducing negative impacts resulting from fossil fuel-based automobiles.
Additionally, the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital has ensured that the building design caters to differently abled and senior citizens. The project has provided preferred parking spaces, easy access to the main entrance, uniformity in floor level, braille & audio assistance in lifts, seating area near entrance lift lobby, differently abled toilets, walkways/ pathways with adequate width in exterior area and visual warning signage’s in common & exterior area.
IGBC encourages innovation in building technologies, materials, and design practices that support net zero goals. It promotes research and development in sustainable building solutions and technologies. It also fosters collaboration among various stakeholders, including industry experts, government bodies, and academic institutions. This collaborative approach helps in sharing knowledge, experiences, and solutions related to net zero buildings.
CII-IGBC’s Mission on Net Zero envisions to achieve 100% net zero embodied carbon by 2050, for new buildings and infrastructure and work towards making all buildings including existing buildings, net zero operational carbon. Its Net Zero Carbon Rating System promotes the use of low-embodied carbon materials and technologies and on-site or off-site renewable energy sources, and adherence to a Whole Building Life Cycle Analysis. The rating system addresses projects in both ‘Design & Construction’ and ‘Operations’ phases. This approach allows tailored strategies for minimising or eliminating carbon emissions at different project stages.