While plans are underway to make the Indian economy bulletproof, there is an equal need and intent to make India climate-resilient

Byline: Arun Awasthy, President And Managing Director, Johnson Controls, India

India’s economy is rapidly expanding and is at the doorstep of its next major pivot. With both the government and private sector mobilising to catapult India into a completely developed nation, plans are in place to surpass the USD 5 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) mark in the next 6 years. As a natural cause and effect, every sector in India is growing at a rapid pace, the key among which is the healthcare sector. According to recent statistics, the Indian healthcare sector is projected to contribute to over 12.59 per cent growth in the fiscal year 2024-2025, reflecting a robust upward trend in both infrastructure and operational demands. Additionally, the hospital market alone was valued at approximately USD 98.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0 per cent, reaching an estimated USD 193.59 billion by 2032.

India’s Net Zero Mission & Healthcare
While plans are underway to make the Indian economy bulletproof, there is an equal need and intent to make India climate resilient, as evidenced by the number of policy level developments all around, and a comprehensive collective action by every economic actor in the country. For instance, the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), India will, inter alia, reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent by 2030, and achieve 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030, in the run up to its long-term goal of reaching net-zero by 2070. Furthermore, India’s Long-term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LTLEDS) started at Cop 27 highlights the potential to significantly reduce national power demand by improving the energy efficiency of building design, construction, and operations.

Zooming in a little on the healthcare sector, here is what we know: hospitals are energy-intensive buildings, consuming significant amounts of electricity for medical equipment, lighting, HVAC systems, and other operations. Indian hospitals spend 380 kwh/ sq.mt/ year against the benchmark of 200 kwh/ sq.mt/ year. This excessive energy consumption not only increases operational costs but also contributes to a substantial carbon footprint. The effect of this will only compound as the sector continues to expand over time.

What Does Indian Healthcare Need Today?
In light of this reality, the pace with which the industry needs to move towards decarbonization assumes an added urgency. If the sector’s growth trajectory is any indication, its potential to make a deep impact on India’s net zero mission is profound. The answer, of course, lies in adopting green building standards and practices across the length and breadth of the sector. This can, at once, address multiple challenges of environmental impact, operational costs, as well as occupant comfort and health! In India, organisations like Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), extend beyond merely being rating agencies, to being enablers, wherein they offer frameworks that guide the design and construction of environmentally friendly buildings.

One of the key elements of this is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems ( within the buildings – a vital component of any building. Making the HVAC system energy efficient, especially given that they are the leading contributors to energy consumption and emissions, can significantly reduce a facility’s carbon footprint. Beyond energy efficiency, modern HVAC systems, which incorporate advanced technologies such as variable refrigerant flow (VRF), air-side economisers, heat recovery, and energy-efficient controls, also play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and comfortable environment for patients and staff. These systems help protect sensitive medical equipment and supplies from temperature and humidity fluctuations, ensuring proper functioning and longevity. VRF systems optimize energy consumption by matching cooling and heating output to actual demand, while air-side economizers use outdoor air for cooling when conditions are favorable, reducing mechanical cooling needs. Heat recovery systems capture and reuse waste heat, minimizing energy losses, and energy-efficient controls optimize HVAC operations based on occupancy and environmental conditions. By adopting these advanced HVAC solutions, healthcare facilities can significantly reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and improve indoor air quality, ultimately contributing to a more comfortable and healthy environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

Direct Benefits To Patient Care
The HVAC system of a building is chiefly responsible for maintaining indoor air quality and comfort, and the more advanced this system, the more intuitive it is – requiring lesser human intervention. Advanced systems today are able to intuitively regulate temperatures based on occupancy, the baseline requirements, and the external climatic conditions – automatically. This has a direct impact on patient outcomes. By creating healthier indoor environments, healthcare facilities can positively impact patient recovery and overall well-being. Furthermore, incorporating natural light and ventilation into hospital design promotes a more healing atmosphere, bringing down patient’s blood pressure and anxiety significantly. Temperature Control helps meticulously regulate degrees based on occupancy, external conditions, and specific area requirements. This creates a stable environment that’s vital for maintaining optimal storage conditions for medications, vaccines, and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies. Fluctuations in temperature can degrade the effectiveness of these critical resources, potentially compromising patient care. A comfortable environment can contribute to a positive patient experience and expedite recovery. Moreover, ensuring healthy indoor environments contribute to the overall patient outcomes, reduce risk of further complications, and shorter hospital stays. These design elements have been shown to reduce patient stress and improve sleep quality, fostering a conducive environment for recovery.

As amply demonstrated, placing sustainability at the core of this sector doesn’t just support the broader sustainability goals of the nation, but supports the growth of the sector itself, by enabling patient centricity and cost efficiency across the entire value chain. Constructing net-zero healthcare facilities through the adoption of green building technologies, is a critical step in both these endeavors.

Overcoming challenges such as high upfront costs, the need for skilled professionals, and the complexity of integrating sustainability into existing operations requires government support, financial incentives, and capacity-building initiatives. The Indian government has introduced various schemes, such as the Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) and the perform, achieve and trade (PAT) scheme, to promote energy efficiency in the healthcare sector. India has the opportunity to become a global leader in sustainable healthcare. By prioritising environmentally responsible and patient-centric healthcare facilities, the country can inspire other nations to follow suit, contributing to a healthier planet and improved human well-being.