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Advancing Healthcare Sustainability: UW Medicine’s Energy and Waste Dashboard

Student(s):

Mara Bridwell

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Juan Escalante

Partner(s):

  • UW Medicine

Faculty advisor(s):

Lubna Alzaroo, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

In an era where sustainability is imperative, the healthcare sector faces significant challenges due to its extensive environmental footprint. This initiative seeks to address these challenges through the development of a comprehensive “Energy and Waste Dashboard”. The dashboard integrates and analyzes environmental data from a major healthcare institution, transforming five years of complex data into actionable insights to enhance decision-making for sustainable practices. By providing a real-time, comprehensive view of energy consumption and waste management, this project positions the institution as a leader in sustainable healthcare operations. The integration of data into a user-friendly interface highlights areas for improvement and guides the institution toward reducing its ecological impact. This project serves as a prime example of how data-driven strategies can promote environmental stewardship within healthcare, demonstrating significant sustainability advancements through targeted data management. Key findings include reductions in waste generation and optimized energy usage patterns, contributing to a more sustainable operational model. Through this project, the potential of data to influence environmental policy is showcased, setting a new standard for sustainability in healthcare facilities.