The new Cowichan District Hospital will be British Columbia's first fossil fuel-free hospital, Island Health announced on Earth Day, April 22.
The new hospital is under construction on Bell McKinnon Road near Duncan on Vancouver Island and is scheduled to open in 2027.
It is also Canada鈥檚 first hospital to achieve Zero Carbon Building 鈥� Design certification from the Canadian Green Building Council.
鈥淲e鈥檙e building hospitals that will care for people in our communities for generations,鈥� said Bowinn Ma, B.C.鈥檚 minister of Infrastructure. 鈥淭his certification shows that through innovative design, we can create hospitals that support the well-being of families and a sustainable future.鈥�
Hospitals require significant energy to operate critical life-saving equipment, maintain indoor air quality and ensure safe, comfortable environments for patients and staff.
The future CDH sets new benchmarks for healthcare infrastructure by optimizing energy use and future-proofing the building for better performance through extreme weather and climate-related events.
鈥淭he health of our environment is an important part of our overall health,鈥� said Debra Toporowski, MLA for Cowichan Valley and Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so glad that the future CDH will provide the healthcare services that people need, while minimizing the impact on the land, water, and air around us.鈥�
The hospital鈥檚 leading edge sustainability measures will free up resources for patient care while supporting patient and staff well-being and delivering environmental benefits.
The hospital's green highlights include the fact that it is the first all-electric hospital in the province and it has a highly energy efficient design and advanced ventilation and filtration systems that support cleaner air, renewable energy generation, water conservation strategies, and LED lighting.
鈥淭he new Cowichan District Hospital鈥檚 visionary design aligns with Island Health鈥檚 commitment to making a positive contribution to healthy people and a healthy planet,鈥� said Island Health鈥檚 chair Leah Hollins.
鈥淚sland Health is taking action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions Island-wide by 50 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030, setting the bar high on environmental sustainability and supporting community preparedness and resiliency for climate emergencies.鈥�
The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project is being delivered by the Nuts'a'maat Alliance, which includes Island Health, EllisDon Corporation, Parkin Architects, BC Infrastructure Benefits, and Infrastructure BC.
For more information on the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project, visit .
