Organizations are rapidly adopting sustainability for the betterment of the environment and people. Green practices are being adopted as a part of sustainability, and they aim at reducing energy usage as well as material use. Green hospitals are an outcome of the practices adopted under green architecture. Previous studies have found that people, both attendants and patients, visiting such hospitals tend to feel better in a green environment. Their perceptions of healing and well-being tend to increase in a green building. This research work adopted an evidence-based case study approach to examine the concept of green hospitals in three major hospitals of the National Capital Territory (NCT), India. These hospitals are renowned for their green initiatives and thus selected as cases for the study. The researchers found that the hospitals have adopted several green initiatives, keeping in mind customer experience and satisfaction. They are also planning to implement other such initiatives soon. The outcomes of this paper are expected to guide future researchers to implement empirical studies in this area.

Keywords: Green Hospitals, Sustainability, Green Practices, Healthcare Facilities, Green Architecture,
Environmental Sustainability, Hospital Design, Energy Efficiency, Material Usage Reduction,
Sustainable Healthcare, Eco-Friendly Hospitals

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1. Abotah R, Daim TU. Towards building a multi perspective policy development framework for transition into renewable energy. Sustain Energy Technol Assess. 2017;21:67–88.
2. Ascione F, Bianco N, De Stasio C, Mauro GM, Vanoli GP. Simulation-based model predictive control by the multi-objective optimization of building energy performance and thermal comfort. Energy Build. 2016;111:131–144.
3. Azmal M, Kalhor R, Dehcheshmeh NF, Goharinezhad S, Heidari ZA, Farzinpour F. Going toward green hospitals by sustainable healthcare waste management: segregation, treatment and safe disposal. Health. 2014;6(19):2632.
4. Berniak-Woźny J, Rataj M. Towards green and sustainable healthcare: A literature review and research agenda for green leadership in the healthcare sector. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(2):908.
5. Buonomano A, Calise F, Ferruzzi G, Palombo A. Dynamic energy performance analysis: Case study for energy efficiency retrofits of hospital buildings. Energy. 2014;78:555–572.
6. Halgamuge MN, Bojovschi A, Fisher PM, Le TC, Adeloju S, Murphy S. Internet of Things and autonomous control for vertical cultivation walls towards smart food growing: A review. Urban For Urban Green. 2021;61:127094.
7. Heung VC, Gu T. Influence of restaurant atmospherics on patron satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Int J Hosp Manag. 2012;31(4):1167–1177.
8. Huisman ER, Morales E, Van Hoof J, Kort HS. Healing environment: A review of the impact of physical environmental factors on users. Build Environ. 2012;58:70–80.
9. Jani D, Han H. Influence of environmental stimuli on hotel customer emotional loyalty response: Testing the moderating effect of the big five personality factors. Int J Hosp Manag. 2015;44:48–57.
10. Jeong E, Jang SS, Day J, Ha S. The impact of eco-friendly practices on green image and customer attitudes: An investigation in a café setting. Int J Hosp Manag. 2014;41:10–20.
11. Kumar K. The uptake of sustainability disclosure practices by environmentally polluting industries in India. In: The equal pillars of sustainability. Emerald Publishing Limited; 2022. 199–224.
12. Kumar K, Prakash A. Developing a framework for assessing sustainable banking performance of the Indian banking sector. Soc Responsib J. 2019;15(5):689–709.
13. Kumar K, Kumari R, Kumar R. The state of corporate sustainability reporting in India: Evidence from environmentally sensitive industries. Bus Soc Rev. 2021;126(4):513–538.
14. Kumar K, Kumari R, Nandy M, Sarim M, Kumar R. Do ownership structures and governance attributes matter for corporate sustainability reporting? An examination in the Indian context. Manag Environ Qual. 2022;33(5):1077–1096.
15. Kumar K, Prakash A, Khan W. Integrating the notion of sustainable development in banking: Analysing historical and conceptual framework. Indian J Econ Dev. 2020;16(3):449–558.
16. Kumari S, Saini CP. An investigation of factors affecting the adoption of green hospitals among healthcare professionals. Transnatl Mark J. 2022;10(3):505–514.
17. Lacroix RN, Stamatiou E, Planner ADT. Green architecture and sustainable development: Applications & perspectives. In: Proc. of the 3rd IASME/WSEAS Int. Conference on Energy, Environment, Ecosystems and Sustainable Development. 2007. 603–606.
18. Ladhari R. Service quality, emotional satisfaction and behavioral intentions: A study in the hotel industry. Manag Serv Qual. 2009;19(3):308–331.
19. Ladhari R. Service quality, emotional satisfaction, and behavioural intentions: A study in the hotel industry. Manag Serv Qual. 2009;19(3):308–331.
20. Lee SM, Lee D. Developing green healthcare activities in the total quality management framework. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(11):6504.
21. Akinsemolu AA, Idowu AM, Onyeaka HN. Recycling technologies for biopolymers: Current challenges and future directions. Polymers. 2024;16(19):2770.
22. Marshal O, Sunaryo NC, Kurniawan SJ, Herwendanasari D, Hariyanto E, Andarini S. Green hospital implementation in Indonesia: A literature review. J Community Health Prev Med. 2021;1(2):32–42.
23. Newton P, Hampson K. Transforming the built environment through construction innovation. In: Technology, design and process innovation in the built environment. Spon Press; 2009. 29–54.
24. Prasad PA, Joshi D, Lighter J, Agins J, Allen R, Collins M, et al. Environmental footprint of regular and intensive inpatient care in a large US hospital. Int J Life Cycle Assess. 2022;1–12.
25. United Nations. Sustainable Development Goals [Online]. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/goals.

Organizations are rapidly adopting sustainability for the betterment of the environment and people. Green practices are being adopted as a part of sustainability, and they aim at reducing energy usage as well as material use. Green hospitals are an outcome of the practices adopted under green architecture. Previous studies have found that people, both attendants and patients, visiting such hospitals tend to feel better in a green environment. Their perceptions of healing and well-being tend to increase in a green building. This research work adopted an evidence-based case study approach to examine the concept of green hospitals in three major hospitals of the National Capital Territory (NCT), India. These hospitals are renowned for their green initiatives and thus selected as cases for the study. The researchers found that the hospitals have adopted several green initiatives, keeping in mind customer experience and satisfaction. They are also planning to implement other such initiatives soon. The outcomes of this paper are expected to guide future researchers to implement empirical studies in this area.

Keywords: Green Hospitals, Sustainability, Green Practices, Healthcare Facilities, Green Architecture,
Environmental Sustainability, Hospital Design, Energy Efficiency, Material Usage Reduction,
Sustainable Healthcare, Eco-Friendly Hospitals

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Abotah R, Daim TU. Towards building a multi perspective policy development framework for transition into renewable energy. Sustain Energy Technol Assess. 2017;21:67–88.
2. Ascione F, Bianco N, De Stasio C, Mauro GM, Vanoli GP. Simulation-based model predictive control by the multi-objective optimization of building energy performance and thermal comfort. Energy Build. 2016;111:131–144.
3. Azmal M, Kalhor R, Dehcheshmeh NF, Goharinezhad S, Heidari ZA, Farzinpour F. Going toward green hospitals by sustainable healthcare waste management: segregation, treatment and safe disposal. Health. 2014;6(19):2632.
4. Berniak-Woźny J, Rataj M. Towards green and sustainable healthcare: A literature review and research agenda for green leadership in the healthcare sector. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(2):908.
5. Buonomano A, Calise F, Ferruzzi G, Palombo A. Dynamic energy performance analysis: Case study for energy efficiency retrofits of hospital buildings. Energy. 2014;78:555–572.
6. Halgamuge MN, Bojovschi A, Fisher PM, Le TC, Adeloju S, Murphy S. Internet of Things and autonomous control for vertical cultivation walls towards smart food growing: A review. Urban For Urban Green. 2021;61:127094.
7. Heung VC, Gu T. Influence of restaurant atmospherics on patron satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Int J Hosp Manag. 2012;31(4):1167–1177.
8. Huisman ER, Morales E, Van Hoof J, Kort HS. Healing environment: A review of the impact of physical environmental factors on users. Build Environ. 2012;58:70–80.
9. Jani D, Han H. Influence of environmental stimuli on hotel customer emotional loyalty response: Testing the moderating effect of the big five personality factors. Int J Hosp Manag. 2015;44:48–57.
10. Jeong E, Jang SS, Day J, Ha S. The impact of eco-friendly practices on green image and customer attitudes: An investigation in a café setting. Int J Hosp Manag. 2014;41:10–20.
11. Kumar K. The uptake of sustainability disclosure practices by environmentally polluting industries in India. In: The equal pillars of sustainability. Emerald Publishing Limited; 2022. 199–224.
12. Kumar K, Prakash A. Developing a framework for assessing sustainable banking performance of the Indian banking sector. Soc Responsib J. 2019;15(5):689–709.
13. Kumar K, Kumari R, Kumar R. The state of corporate sustainability reporting in India: Evidence from environmentally sensitive industries. Bus Soc Rev. 2021;126(4):513–538.
14. Kumar K, Kumari R, Nandy M, Sarim M, Kumar R. Do ownership structures and governance attributes matter for corporate sustainability reporting? An examination in the Indian context. Manag Environ Qual. 2022;33(5):1077–1096.
15. Kumar K, Prakash A, Khan W. Integrating the notion of sustainable development in banking: Analysing historical and conceptual framework. Indian J Econ Dev. 2020;16(3):449–558.
16. Kumari S, Saini CP. An investigation of factors affecting the adoption of green hospitals among healthcare professionals. Transnatl Mark J. 2022;10(3):505–514.
17. Lacroix RN, Stamatiou E, Planner ADT. Green architecture and sustainable development: Applications & perspectives. In: Proc. of the 3rd IASME/WSEAS Int. Conference on Energy, Environment, Ecosystems and Sustainable Development. 2007. 603–606.
18. Ladhari R. Service quality, emotional satisfaction and behavioral intentions: A study in the hotel industry. Manag Serv Qual. 2009;19(3):308–331.
19. Ladhari R. Service quality, emotional satisfaction, and behavioural intentions: A study in the hotel industry. Manag Serv Qual. 2009;19(3):308–331.
20. Lee SM, Lee D. Developing green healthcare activities in the total quality management framework. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(11):6504.
21. Akinsemolu AA, Idowu AM, Onyeaka HN. Recycling technologies for biopolymers: Current challenges and future directions. Polymers. 2024;16(19):2770.
22. Marshal O, Sunaryo NC, Kurniawan SJ, Herwendanasari D, Hariyanto E, Andarini S. Green hospital implementation in Indonesia: A literature review. J Community Health Prev Med. 2021;1(2):32–42.
23. Newton P, Hampson K. Transforming the built environment through construction innovation. In: Technology, design and process innovation in the built environment. Spon Press; 2009. 29–54.
24. Prasad PA, Joshi D, Lighter J, Agins J, Allen R, Collins M, et al. Environmental footprint of regular and intensive inpatient care in a large US hospital. Int J Life Cycle Assess. 2022;1–12.
25. United Nations. Sustainable Development Goals [Online]. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/goals.