For Immediate Release: March 17, 2009
Media Contact: Marketing and Communication Department
For the Greener Good: Healthy Hospitals
WHO
A discussion with:
Bob Eisenman, Executive Director, Global Health and Safety Initiative
Robin Guenther, Architect and co-author of Sustainable Healthcare Architecture
Joanne Silberner, Health Policy Correspondent, NPR (moderator)
Roger S. Ulrich, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University
WHAT
In 1960 the United States spent 5.1% of its GDP on healthcare; in 2003 the portion was 15.3% or $1.7 trillion. Sustainable healthcare facilities can play an essential role in helping to lower this crippling cost (Sustainable Healthcare Architecture). And as heavy users of energy and large waste producers, hospitals have considerable impact on the environment and the economy of their surrounding communities. This makes them natural candidates for sustainable design. This panel will address the intersection of health and safety concerns among hospital patients, workers, and the local community, and examine how the way we design, build, and operate our healthcare facilities affect each of these constituencies.
Looking to the future, our nation's population over the age of 65 will double to 71 million people by 2026–which means significant hospital construction over the next decade. In 2008 alone, 110 million new square feet were added, which accounted for a 25% surge for new hospital projects (Architectural Record). The nation's leading green hospital design experts will discuss the costs, consequences, and opportunities of healing our population and our planet in the National Building Museum's next program in the For the Greener Good lecture series.
WHERE
National Building Museum
401 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20001 (Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line)
WHEN
Monday, March 23
6:30 – 8:00 pm
$12 Museum members; $20 public; Free for students with valid ID. Prepaid registration required. Walk-in registration based on availability. Register online or call 202.272.2448. Visit the For the Greener Good web page for information on upcoming programs in the series, as well recordings of previous programs.
CONTACT
Marketing and Communications Department, 202.272.2448, ext. 3458
Register for a press pass.
BACKGROUND
For the Greener Good lecture series is presented by The Home Depot Foundation.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter: @BuildingMuseum and Facebook.
