Carbon Zero hospital unveiled

Forté Hospital in Christchurch has been named New Zealand’s first Toitū carbonzero certified hospital.

Forté Hospital operates out of Forté Health, a health precinct built in 2013 in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes. The hospital, which operates out of one of New Zealand’s most environmentally-friendly buildings, has been certified carbonzero by Toitū Envirocare.

“Sustainability has been part of our kaupapa since the idea of Forté Health was born. We wanted to do things differently and show that you didn’t have to choose between looking after people and looking after your planet – you can do both,” says Forté Health Chairman David Barker.

While Forté Hospital is the first hospital in Australasia to achieve a four-star green certification through the New Zealand Green Building Council, to achieve Toitū carbonzero certification, sustainability had to be taken to an operational level.

Forté’s future sustainability goals include to further reduce its carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 10 percent over the next five years.

As part of becoming Toitū carbonzero certified, Forté Health will be offsetting its carbon footprint by planting trees at Spray Point Station in South Marlborough, at Puhi Peaks Station and Nature Reserve in Kaikōura and at the Hinewai Reserve, Banks Peninsula.