What is Energy Conservation

The increasing importance of environmental sustainability for all society and for healthcare systems in particular is unquestionable. Thus, in recent years, hospitals and health centres began to arm themselves with techniques and equipment to reduce environmental impact, because it was found that these institutions contributed greatly to environmental deterioration. This chapter seeks to present the creation and implementation of an environmental sustainability programme in a hospital focused on saving energy and water resources, demonstrating that there are economic and competitive opportunities behind the environmental improvements. This would allow the hospital to become more competitive and to become the first green hospital in Portugal. The focus of the chapter is the study of attitudes and behaviours of staff regarding to the environmental sustainability campaign followed by the hospital.