Sustainability and wellbeing in healthcare facilities. An investigation inside a historic hospital

Abstract

Sustainability, health and well-being are strictly connected. The WHO has recently highlighted the importance of designing, management, organization and also retrofitting and refurbishment interventions for health care facilities based on climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health criterion. In this study we propose a practical method based on the combination of physical-real and virtual information, i.e. the integration between continuous monitoring system and transient simulations, for the assessment of microclimatic and ventilation parameters, user influx/presence and behaviour, real operation (on demand) of plants and control/regulation system adjustment. The method is based on a system thinking that assures people and environment health, safety, quality of services and management, reducing energy and facility costs. Findings provided the fundamentals for training health workers and people/patients, aiming at conscious interaction for health and wellbeing protection, but also environmental sustainability and management quality. This is particularly important for healthcare environments housed in historic buildings, such as the one studied.