![]() ![]() ![]() A lot of green infrastructure projects can be large, and they require a lot of upfront cost. I think there’s also a fear that there won’t be a return on investment. I think any facilities manager who really thinks about that is kind of overwhelmed by the prospect of needing to address that, but it’s something that I think these institutions have to contend with and really understand. Studies have shown that hospitals consume nearly twice as much energy than an average commercial building, which is a huge hurdle in itself. ![]() It requires more long-term planning, especially if the institution or facility needs to remain operational while physical changes are made.įN: Is there sometimes a need for a change in mentality among facility leaders to approach these kinds of green landscape projects?ĪP: I’m more of an expert on the medical institution side and hospital side of facilities, and I think it’s really critical that medical institutions really understand how much energy they consume, and their impact on climate change and how that can be addressed through green infrastructure programs and fiscal interventions. It takes some real strategic planning to think about how to upgrade a building to be able to hold a green roof or redo the landscaping in front of a hospital building. So, for them, it really kind of has to be a more surgical approach rather than kind of wholesale holistic changes at a kind of campus-wide or institutional level. Buildings that might have been built at different times may have varying MEP and operational systems. ![]() But I think it’s really difficult because large institutions, ones that may even have multiple facilities or buildings, have really large footprints or huge land holdings. I think the institutions are really interested in green infrastructure and future planning. And it’s kind of imperative for larger health issues, which dovetails with green infrastructure, planning and what green infrastructure can provide in terms of reducing particulate matter in the atmosphere, such as providing flood resilience to vulnerable communities. It feels like with a medical institution in particular, there’s some real kind of synergies with that kind of mission. I think institutions are really taking a critical look at their internal missions and goals and sort of this larger imperative to address public health. However, I think in terms of landscape and site design, things like stormwater management, green capture system detention like reservoirs, those have always been a part of institutional growth and site design.įN: Do you find that most institutions are willing participants in these kinds of things, such as sustainability and addressing climate change?ĪP: Absolutely. The technology is constantly changing, and I think it’s become a lot greener recently. Here is the conversation, edited for length.įN: Is the concept of green infrastructure a fairly new concept for institutional and commercial facilities?Īnjulie Palta: I think it’s fairly new, in terms of looking at systems management like MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems) and utility systems for larger institutions, just the technology in the last 10-15 years. This includes providing more access to green space and connecting with public transportation to help reduce vehicles on the road.Īnjulie Palta, an associate with New York-based architecture and urban design firm Cooper Robertson, talked about green infrastructure with and offered managers some tips on how to move forward with projects at their own facilities. One of the challenges facility managers face today is trying to incorporate their buildings’ surroundings into the efficient operation of institutional and commercial facilities. All of these are phrases that can be lumped into a discussion of green infrastructure. ![]()
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