Green Hospitals

Drees & Sommer offers Green Hospital solutions for new and existing buildings. We draw on decades of experience in planning and constructing sustainable and green buildings to provide comprehensive support for our healthcare clients. Together, we develop ideas and concepts for new buildings as well as analyzing and optimizing existing properties and entire real estate portfolios. We also handle certification to recognized standards and improve the efficiency of building operations.

Green Hospital Solutions 

• We examine your buildings’ energy consumption and help you reduce CO₂ emissions. We also explore ways for your hospital to generate its own energy at the same time.
• Our experts use ESG tools to prepare content for your sustainability reporting or provide tailored input for reports you produce in-house.
• Our concepts and solutions cover life-cycle carbon assessments, standards for material circularity and material health in your building, as well as climate adaptation strategies for your site.
• We advise you on the certifications your building needs to qualify as a green building. 

Drees & Sommer’s experts support you throughout the entire life cycle of your Green Hospital, from concept development, planning and permitting to construction and operation. Combining sustainability with economic viability is integral to our approach.

Sustainability Goes Beyond Protecting the Environment

Many clients initially associate sustainability with renewable energy generation or building insulation. These are valid considerations. What matters, however, is taking a comprehensive approach, particularly in a Green Hospital. Alongside the efficient use of resources and energy, this means protecting the health of patients and staff. Reducing waste also plays an important role, as do the broader principles of a circular economy.

People are at the heart of green buildings. This calls for planning that responds to different needs and, in particular, reconciles the requirements of different generations. Flexible layouts allow spaces to adapt to the people using them and help staff work more efficiently. They can also reduce the distances patients and staff need to travel around the hospital. Well-designed lighting, ventilation and green spaces help create a calmer environment and prevent stress from happening in the first place.

Drees & Sommer is: 

• A founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) 
  The DGNB was founded in Stuttgart in 2007 to promote sustainability in construction and real estate. The nonprofit association has established itself as Europe’s largest  network for sustainable building and has around 1,500 member organizations, contributing expertise in fields including architecture, planning, investment and research.
• A member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Rating Alliance
• User of the Building Research Establishment  Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) 
  BREEAM stands for “Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method” and provides a comprehensive, internationally applicable rating system for sustainable building. A version aligned with German legislation and standards is also available, making it easier to use in Germany.
• User of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Assessment System for Sustainable Building (BNB) 
  LEED, offered by the U.S. Green Building Council, stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.” The certification system has provided a way to demonstrate sustainability in building construction and operation since 1998. 

These credentials underpin Drees & Sommer’s expertise in Green Hospitals and their certification.