Clinics under pressure: Millions urgently needed for climate protection!

Clinics under pressure: Millions urgently needed for climate protection!

In German hospitals it often becomes unbearably hot in the summer months. This poses a challenge not only for patients, but also for healthcare workers, who are almost sweating while battling high temperatures. According to a recent report by the Rhine Palatinate Many clinics are struggling to maintain a comfortable room temperature, especially given increasing energy consumption and inadequate climate protection measures.

But that's not all: a new study shows that hospitals need to make massive strides in their climate protection efforts. This requires significant investments, like this Medical Journal reported. The Marburger Bund even demands that clinics become climate neutral by 2030. The need for financial support is immense because the average gas consumption of a hospital is 4.9 million cubic meters annually.

Investment needs for climate protection

As part of an extensive study by the German Hospital Institute (DKI), it was found that a mid-double-digit billion sum is required to implement climate protection measures. This correlates with the results of the DKI, which shows that over 100 possible measures for CO2 savings have been identified in German hospitals, but are often not used.

The three-year study, which involved 263 hospitals, revealed that 61% of clinics are unable to save gas in the short term and 63% see opportunities for optimization in the areas of energy and electricity. Dependence on fossil fuels represents a major challenge, as 92% of hospitals in Germany rely on natural gas. The financial situation of many clinics has severely hindered their commitment to climate protection.

Climate protection strategies in hospitals

The DKI results indicate that a good hand is needed to achieve the climate-neutral goals. The specialist societies are not only calling for structural changes, such as the use of geothermal probes and renewable energy sources, but also for better support from politics. The federal government is planning an immediate climate protection program with an investment volume of 8 billion euros.

A majority of the clinics surveyed see great potential for improvements in energy supply, especially with regard to heat recovery and the use of renewable energies. Over 65% of the clinics are aware of available funding programs, but 55% have not yet submitted any relevant applications. It is important to provide more information and incentives so that the necessary measures can be implemented quickly and efficiently.

In summary, it is clear that the need for action is enormous and time is short. While the temperatures outside are rising, the focus should not only be on immediate ventilation of hospital rooms, but also on long-term, sustainable solutions for climate-friendly healthcare in Germany.