Massachusetts may become the first state to require all newly constructed hospitals and nursing homes to be environmentally friendly, according to a news report.
Legislation proposed last Wednesday by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health would, if enacted, be the first of its kind to require environmentally sound building practices, according to The Boston Globe. While going green would be a construction caveat, public health officials note that requirements wouldn’t be prohibitively high, as many eco-friendly building features can be expensive. Some of the advice for future projects: automatic water faucets, eco-friendly refrigeration and energy conserving materials such as rubber for flooring.
But some public health officials say that the legislation doesn’t go far enough and that the state should be setting a higher standard. Several New England facilities already incorporate green practices in their buildings, recycling scrap building material and installing roof gardens, according to the Globe.
