My name’s Adam, I work as a Co-op student within the sustainability department here at Sunnybrook. My experience helping with the Bike to Work Day event was great! I met so many people and had the opportunity to ask about their commutes. To my surprise I noticed that everyone responded with the same answers! Talk about thinking alike! The majority of the cyclists suggested to me that the main reason for biking is not only for the fun aspect, or the health benefits, but because it actually reduces the amount of time to get to Sunnybrook by bus, by almost half the time!

During our time talking with the cyclists, we would ask them what there bike means to them, we’d get them to express there feelings on a poster which we hung up in front of the solar wall.

But of course cycling has its challenges too, and the main challenge with biking is that cyclists sometimes have to overcome obstacles such as weather or construction. Some easy tips I learned for how to overcome these challenges are: 1. Check the weather and dress appropriately, 2. Use maps and apps to search up good bike routes to avoid construction.

I also asked cyclists to tell me about their most valued bike gear. Now anyone who is biking should be wearing a helmet and have a bell on their bike (It’s required by the law!), but aside from those items, 89% of the people said that having lights and reflectors would be their number one pick for best bike gear to have.

All in all, everyone shared my thought that the day had the most amazing weather, the perfect breeze, and top it off the smell of everything blossoming. The perfect day for enjoying the pleasant and quiet ride through Sunnybrook Park.  Oh! I almost forgot; don’t forget to share your favorite place in Sunnybrook Park for your chance to win the “Bike gear basket prize” from Smart Commute!

~ Adam

The post My Bike to Work Day Experience – Adam the Co-op appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Her research investigates the following questions: how does contact with nature influence health and happiness, what are the consequences of disconnection from nature for environmental decision-making, and what types of interventions can influence nature relatedness.

If I were asked to describe my own level of nature relatedness I would say that i feel highly connected with nature, I love spending time adventuring in the wilderness and am often concerned about how our actions are impacting the natural environment. Needless to say I really enjoyed the talk.

There were three things that really stuck with me after listening to Dr. Nisbet’s  presentation:

1. Humans have evolved surrounded by nature, we are meant to be in natural environments, that’s why spending time in nature feels good.

2. People tend to underestimate the  benefits of spending time in nature. Even though green spaces are often only a short diversion from our daily routes, we often don’t make time for nature.

3. I need to make more of an effort to spend time in Nature. Since moving to Toronto, I have noticed that it is easy to go the whole day without experiencing nature, therefore I will need to make a conscious effort to connect with nature.

After thinking about this for a couple of days I decided to enroll in 30×30 Nature Challenge.  The David Suzuki Foundation is challenging Canadians to spend 30 minutes a day outdoors in nature for 30 days starting May 1st 2014. This challenge is about taking time to notice and connect with the non-human life around you, whether it be in your backyard, neighbourhood park, or a back country hiking trail.  I expect participating in this challenge will be just the motivation I need to seek out and enjoy more nature time!

I am looking forward to some of the potential perks:

• sleeping better
• feeling calmer
• lower blood pressure, anxiety, and stress levels
• boosted immunity
• reduced feelings of anger and depression
• increased energy
• increased creativity
• increased generosity

If you are skeptical of the health and happiness benefits of more time in nature, I  encourage you to try the 30×30 challenge with me.  I expect you will be pleasantly surprised with your results!

To learn more about the David Suzuki 30×30 Nature Challenge and the potential health and happiness benefits, visit the website:

http://30×30.davidsuzuki.org/

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The Earth Matter’s showcase is an internal trade show that Sunnybrook hosts for our 10,000 staff and volunteers. Each year we organize companies and community groups to set up displays presenting green products and information regarding green initiatives. Many of these companies have partnered with Sunnybrook to implement green initiatives and are happy to talk to staff about the impacts of those green initiatives on the hospital and the community at large. For example staff and volunteers can learn about the two solar arrays we have installed at Sunnybrook as part of a $30Million energy retrofit project with Honeywell, or the deltasorb anesthetic gas capturing system we have implemented in the operating rooms with BlueZone.  There are a wide variety of companies that participate and their displays cover all aspects of sustainability including: energy, water, transportation, food, indoor air quality, air pollution, nature and landscape, and green purchasing.

(photo from the 2013 Earth Matters Showcase Event)

What is great about this event is that staff and volunteers have the opportunity to interact with company representatives,  be engaged and ask questions.  According to Doug McKenzie-Mohr in his book – Fostering Sustainable Behaviour “Research demonstrates that the major influence upon our attitudes and behaviour is not the media, but rather our contact with other people”. It is this interaction with people that makes the Earth Matters Showcase so successful. After exploring the Showcase and connecting with others, staff are more informed, feel more engaged and often have ideas for how we can make Sunnybrook even greener. Feedback which they can submit for a chance to win some really great prizes like this year’s grand prize – an iPad mini – sponsored by Honeywell.

(photo from the 2013 Earth Matters Showcase Event)

Most of all, the Earth Matters Showcase is a celebration of all things green at Sunnybrook. It’s both a testament to all that we have accomplished and an inspiration for future green initiatives.

This year’s event is April 16th – you wont want to miss it!

The post Sunnybrook’s Annual Earth Matters Showcase appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Toronto Ice Storm – December 2013

In Canada, 2013 was marked by many extreme weather events including the Alberta Flooding that wreaked havoc on Calgary and surrounding areas, the Toronto Flooding, and the recent Ice Storm that hit Southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada leaving many Canadians without power.

With the increased frequency of extreme global weather events such as Hurricane Sandy, Typhoon Haiyan, the North India Floods, and other storms, floods, wild fires and extreme temperature events it is hard to ignore the piling evidence that climate change is happening and warmer global temperatures are affecting the severity of weather events.

Extreme weather events can create emergencies by damaging infrastructure, compromising access to critical resources (e.g. food and water) and safety of patients, visitors and staff. The recent Ice Storm in Toronto tested Sunnybrook’s aging emergency generation infrastructure last month when the hospital was without Utility (Hydro) power for 39 hours. During this outage, the generator plant supplied emergency power to critical hospital loads while non critical loads such as offices were left in the dark. A portable generator was also brought in to supply power for the main entrance atrium.

It is fitting to announce that Sunnybrook has been planning an $18 million Generator Plant Renewal Project to mitigate against potential patient safety risks caused by extreme weather events and improve the hospital’s emergency preparedness. Michael McRitchie, Director of Plant Operations and Maintenance, has been spearheading the planning of the High Voltage Emergency Electrical System (generator plant) Renewal Project which began back in 2012 and the contract was awarded for construction just days before December’s Ice Storm.

The Generator Plant Renewal Project will provide complete renewal of the existing aging infrastructure which consists of a mixture of generators and switch gear equipment ranging in age from 1972 – 1996. As the hospital expanded over the years new equipment was continuously added to expand the emergency system resulting in a hybrid mix of machines and switch gear which interface together to provide emergency power.

The renewal project includes for four new 2000 kW campus emergency diesel generators to replace the existing equipment and one new 750 kW generator which will be dedicated to the power plant equipment. This will double the hospital’s generation capacity and standardize the equipment for much improved reliability and operations. A new load management system will more reliably manage electrical loads in each building.  The new generator plant has also been designed for closed transition transfer which will allow for the seamless transfer of power to and from the generators without interruption. New environmental emissions control equipment will also reduce emissions, such as NOx, and allow us to operate the generators for peak load shedding to reduce our electrical supply costs by $1.5 million per year.

The post Preparing for Continued Climate Variability appeared first on Your Health Matters.

These are words from Dr. David Suzuki’s address to the MASH sector stakeholders at an engagement event I attended last month regarding “Energy Conservation Through Collaboration”. (The MASH sector includes municipal, academic  schools & hospitals.) In his speech, Dr. Suzuki challenged us to think of other ways to measure our success other than perpetual economic growth. He proposed we consider instead whether our fundamental needs of survival are being met: do we have clean air to breath, clean water to drink and healthy food to eat?

I wanted to share this powerful analogy through this week’s Earth Matters blog because I feel that we can easily to relate to the harmful effects of a growing cancer in the health care sector and I always like to draw parallels between environment and health. This was my second time listening to Dr. Suzuki, whom I have long admired for his work as an environmentalist and climate change activist and I’ll admit that I did not realize until recently that his background is in biology and genetics. I am not surprised that these are the same fields one studies in healthcare and cancer research as there are many lessons in human health that can be applied to the health of our environment as well.

My favourite part of his talk is when he shares his famous analogy of “exponential growth in a test tube” . A tale of unsuspecting bacteria, happily growing and multiplying without regard any for their limited resources within the test tube. Can you guess how it ends? If you haven’t heard it before, I recommend you watch it for yourself.

You can watch Dr. David Suzuki explain the “Test Tube” analogy here:

http://testtube.nfb.ca/

more about cancer cell division here:

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/cell-division-and-cancer-14046590

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When study participants were asked about what factors influence health, the environment was not considered an important determinant of individual or community health. However, when asked about health concerns specific to their community, the participants frequently mentioned environmental issues such as air pollution.

When asked about big picture global environmental issues such as climate change, the survey respondents thought these issues were far in the future and therefore did not consider these issues to impact their health.

The figure below, an excerpt from the WHO Report: Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future  shows there are many global environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity, ozone depletion and climate change are impacting human health.

In fact, global changes to our environment can have a significant impact on human health.  Health Canada has identified seven categories of climate-related health impacts including:

• Temperature related morbidity and mortality
• Weather related natural hazards
• Air quality
• Water and flood borne contamination
• Vector borne and zoonotic diseases
• Health effects and exposure to ultraviolet rays
• Socio-economic impacts on community health and well-being

The following chart from the Canadian Disaster Database shows the increased frequency of weather related disasters in Canada over the last century.

It’s time we started realizing the connection between environment and health!

The two are linked. Institutions such as EcoHealth, Health and Environment Alliance, and  IRDC Ecosystems and Human Health recognize the need for a more integrated approach to the study of environment and health and are promoting and advocating the integration of environment and health.

Next time you hear an environmental news story or conversation about the impacts of climate change or loss of biodiversity, consider not only the effects that it could have on nature but also the effects it could have on human health.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Read more about the Waterloo Study here:

• https://uwaterloo.ca/stories/does-climate-change-affect-your-health

Read the WHO Report: Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future here:

• http://www.who.int/globalchange/publications/reports/health_rioconventions.pdf

Read more from Health Canada on climate-related health impacts

• http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/climat/impact/index-eng.php

Read more about the Canadian Disaster Database

• http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/cndn-dsstr-dtbs/index-eng.aspx

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You can read more about CO2 concentrations in atmosphere:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/05/09/400-ppm-carbon-dioxide-in-the-atmosphere-reaches-prehistoric-levels/

So you may be wondering how much does Canada contribute to our global greenhouse gas emissions? Well below is a graph from a report on the trends in global CO2 emissions which shows Canada is one of the top emitters, at 556 million tonnes of CO2 in 2011.

CO2 emissions by country

From this report it is clear that Canada has a significant impact on the world’s greenhouse gas levels and that we will need to play a major role in reducing global emissions. In fact, when you look at CO2 emissions per capita Canada ranks 4th highest showing that there are many countries with larger populations than ours who are emitting less.

You can read more about “Global Trends in CO2 Emissions” here:
http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdf

Now let’s consider why Canada is emitting this much CO2? The following graphs from “Canada’s 2011 Greenhouse Gas Inventory” report illustrate that 81% of Canada’s GHG emissions are resulting from the energy sector. And that Ontario and Alberta contributed 59% of the total GHG emissions in 2011. While Ontario, with it’s large manufacturing base started off as the largest-emitting province in 1990, it has been surpassed by Alberta in recent years.

Read “Canada’s 2011 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report” here:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/Publications/default.asp?lang=En&xml=A07ADAA2-E349-481A-860F-9E2064F34822

So we know that energy use in Ontario has a major impact on Canada’s total emissions. The following graph from a ministry of energy report titled “Reviewing Ontario’s Long Term Energy Plan” shows the breakdown of the province’s GHG emissions by sector. The transportation and industry sectors contribute more than half of the emissions but the commercial and institutional buildings sector (C&I) still accounts for 6.9% of the province’s GHG emissions approximately 11 million tonnes.

The Green Energy Act was introduced into Ontario legislature in 2009 to encourage energy conservation, renewable energy production, an to promote a green economy. In accordance with Ontario Regulation 397/11 of the Green Energy Act, all public agencies including hospitals are required to report their annual energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions to the Ministry of Energy.

Sunnybrook reported a total 26,622 tonnes of CO2 resulting from energy used.

So let’s consider how this compares within the commercial and institutional sector. Since energy use is the main source of CO2 emissions for the C&I sector we can compare performance based on energy used by different building types.  The following charts from the “Commercial and Institutional Consumption of Energy Survey” illustrate the national averages for energy consumption and energy intensity of building types within the C&I sector.

According to the energy survey, Healthcare buildings make up 10% of the energy used by the C&I sector with hospitals being one of the most energy intensive building types using on average 2.83 GJ of energy per square meter. The Sunnybrook emissions report shows that our campuses had energy intensities below the national average as follows:

Bayview Campus 2.4 GJ/m2
Holland Campus 2.63 GJ/m2
St. John’s Campus 1.83 GJ/m2

Most importantly, there is room for improvement and Sunnybrook is currently developing an Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan to further improve our energy performance. The Ontario Green Energy Act requires that all public agencies update these Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plans every five years.

Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions is a huge global challenge and it’s sometimes hard to see how our behaviours can make a difference. I hope all these graphs and numbers have helped to paint a bigger picture:

• Energy use at Sunnybrook and other healthcare buildings account for 10% of the energy used in the commercial and institutional buildings sector in Canada
• The C&I sector in Ontario accounts for 7% of the province’s GHG emissions
• Ontario accounts for 24% of the Country’s GHG emissions
• Canada  is one of the top 10 largest emitters, accounting for 1.6% of the total global CO2 emissions

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 Want to learn more about the dangers that you can’t see?

I am talking about airborne chemicals, pollutants and toxins that impact our immune system and increase our risk of cancer.  If you are like me you have read about many of these substances impacting our health, but have trouble locating and removing the potentially dangerous sources. Here’s where ChemTRAC comes in.  The City of Toronto’s ChemTRAC Program provides the public with the ‘right to know’ about what chemicals are being used and released in their communities.

The Toronto Toxic Reduction Toolkit was recently released by the Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition (TCPC), designed to help Torontonians use the City’s ChemTRAC Program and help community leaders take steps to reduce exposures and releases in their neighbourhood or work place.

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At Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre we are lucky to have many places on campus where patients, visitors and staff can connect with the natural environment and reap the benefits, but are we taking full advantage of our green spaces? In this week’s blog, I’m going to share my favourite outdoor places of respite. These are excellent spots around campus for spending some time to recharge and refocus.

Advocates of sustainable healthcare design such as “LEED for Hospitals” and “Green Guide for Healthcare” recognize the benefits of incorporating places of respite into healthcare design. These places provide a much needed break from our often busy and stressful workdays and can reinforce positive distractions that are necessary in our daily routines.

We know that the physical and mental health of medical staff and clinicians is key to successful patient outcomes. So if you are feeling stressed why not take a few minutes relax and recharge. We have access to green space from all over the campus so find your favourite outdoor place of respite and enjoy some more time with nature.

C-wing Tim Hortons Patio

Location: C-Wing Breezeway on the 1^st floor. (Between B and D wings)

This revamped patio is a quiet spot for staff to enjoy a coffee or a treat right off of the C-wing main hallway. Great for a chat with colleagues or a little peace and quiet throughout the day, this patio is the perfect hidden gem – and with a roof, it can be enjoyed rain or shine.

The Blythwood Garden

Location: Between H-Wing and E-Wing (access doors beside E-Wing Tim Hortons)

This secluded courtyard is a great option if you’re looking for a quiet place to sit, take a meeting or do some work out in nature. Newly renovated, the Blythwood Garden includes elevated garden beds, two gazebos and lots of spacious seating under a luscious tree canopy.

Next time you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle, try it out the Blythwood Garden.

The Cenotaph

Location: Along Bayview Avenue (Nearest to L-Wing, M-Wing & T-Wing)

The Veteran’s Cenotaph and Garden is easy to find for staff, patients or visitors as you can see the Cenotaph Memorial from Bayview Avenue. I like this outdoor spot as it is a good location for some quiet reflection.

T-Wing Patio

Location: Behind T-Wing outside of Druxy’s Cafeteria  (Nearest to T-Wing & S-Wing)

This little nook is great for stealing a few minutes outside. Just grab a coffee at Druxy’s and enjoy your break on the patio. Unmanaged stress is unhealthy for your mind and body, so try to incorporate more nature into your breaks to help combat unwanted stress.

Fact: Stress-related illnesses are the number one reason for sick leave for Canadians. (see link to article below)

Grasses by G-Wing

Location: Behind G-Wing on the east side (Nearest to G-Wing, J-Wing & U-Wing)

This grassy area is great spot for when you need a little peace and quiet. Perfect for reviewing that technical report that requires full concentration without distraction. Sometimes stepping away from the busy urban environments is just what we need to improve memory and focus.

Fact: “Nature allows the conscious brain to rest, replenishing your powers of attention, and lowering anxiety.” (see article below)

Explore the Path North

Location: Between L-Wing and P2 (Nearest to L-Wing, K-Wing and M-Wing)

On lunch break why not explore areas of campus you’ve never been to like the path between L-Wing and Parking Garage 2. There’s nothing to lift your mood like a little exploration and discovery. This path lead me to another little wooded path with benches a great little spot for some alone time.

Along the Ravine

Location: Along the ravine on the south side (Nearest to C-Wing, D-Wing & E-Wing)

The path along the ravine which runs along the South side of the campus is great for a mid-day energy boost. Additionally, it can serve as an alternative route to walking indoors across campus.

Fact: “In 2010, a study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that being in nature increased one’s sense of vitality, happiness and energy” (see article below)

 Road to Sunnybrook Park

Location: Take the campus road past G-Wing and U-Wing  (Nearest to G-Wing, J-Wing & U-Wing)

A lunchtime jaunt down the road to Sunnybrook Park is a great way to get exercise and green time, both proven stress relievers! Be sure to watch out for cars though.

Fact:  Research indicates that exercising outdoors produces 50% improvement in mental health over running at the Gym. (see article below)

The Courtyard

Location: Centre of campus (Nearest to H-Wing, E-Wing, D-Wing, C-Wing and M-Wing)

This courtyard is very central so it’s a great outdoors space for meeting up with others coming from different wings. Why not even take some work discussions and informal meetings outside?

The Arbor

Location: Between Vaughn & McLean Estates. (Nearest to K-Wing, H-Wing & G-Wing)

This spot is so gorgeous that many couples choose to get married here at the Arbor. If you’re having a dreary day try venturing over to the Estates and let nature’s beauty lift your spirits.

Grounds at St. Johns Rehab

Location: St. John’s Rehab Campus. 

The vast beautiful grounds at St. John’s Rehab are absolutely stunning, full of gardens, paths, and large trees. What more can I say!

I hope you enjoyed this blog and find your own favourite outdoor places to enjoy around campus!

More Information

Read more about how to Connect with Nature to Reduce Stress:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/docs-talk/2013/04/connect-with-nature-to-reduce-stress/

Read more about Nature and Mental Health:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/docs-talk/2013/06/mental-health-doctor-prescribes-a-good-dose-of-nature/

Read more on the CBC Survey: Inside a Nurse’s World Where Stress is Status Quo
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/features/ratemyhospital/nurse-survey-results/

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Make a plan to get on your bike:

Top Toronto Bike Paths:
http://www.blogto.com/toronto/lists/top_toronto_bike_paths/

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