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The Mediclinic George project embodies a new era of hospital infrastructure, where sustainability, efficiency, and patient-centred design converge.
By integrating intelligent building management, energy recovery systems, and resource-efficient technologies, the hospital is set to become a model for future healthcare facilities, balancing environmental responsibility with operational excellence. From gardens to solar, wastewater to waste sorting – the in-house design team at Mediclinic Corporate Office has ensured the best outcomes across the board, for present and future demand.
The Garden Route is well-suited to solar energy, with excellent year-round radiation levels. Solar installations on the hospital roof (currently covering approximately 60% of the available space) will generate 600kW peak power by capturing energy from panels and synchronising with both the generator and the Eskom supply to ensure uninterrupted power for critical hospital functions, while also prioritising solar use over the generator during power cuts.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and Critical Power Redundancies have also been taken into account for essential medical and data storage areas, such as operating theatres and ICUs, which have dedicated UPS for continuous operation.
The building design also includes external design features to reduce the amount of direct sunlight in rooms, reducing the need for further cooling.
Air conditioning units make use of chilled water systems to cool the building. Air cooled chiller units are used instead of water-cooled chiller units further reducing water consumption of the facility. Air cooled chiller units use modern, eco-friendly refrigerants with a zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), ensuring they do not damage the Earth's protective ozone layer. Heat exchange systems are also used to preheat or precool the fresh air being pumped into the habitable areas, thereby further optimising energy use.
Primary heat source for the domestic hot water is the waste heat generated by the air conditioning unit. This equates to a dramatic saving on energy usage. In addition, heat pumps have been installed as a secondary source to heat water, offering more than 4 times the efficiency of traditional electrical heating. By using renewable thermal energy from the air, they require far less grid energy and are thus an environmentally friendly option.
Rainfall in the Garden Route has been decreasing for over a century, changing the region from a water-surplus area to one experiencing structural shortages. Optimising this resource is essential, and the hospital has split its rainwater collection into two systems: first, rainwater from the roof is collected in large storage tanks, treated, and used in non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, with excess water directed to laundry functions.
The secondary system has been designed to potentially capture surface water from paved areas and other surfaces and directs it to an on-site retention dam. This water is traditionally less clean due to pollutants on the ground, but this storage offers future potential for use in gardens and other greywater applications. Drip irrigation has been installed to establish the water-wise garden, but it will no longer require irrigation once established. Although boreholes were considered, they proved unviable in the area due to the high iron content and limited water supply.
Sewerage waste collection is also structured by source, with the potential to utilise treated water for other water needs.
To reduce water waste within the hospital, low-flow taps and showers have been installed in bathrooms, and sensor taps in public areas automatically switch off when clients are finished.
Another large source of water usage is the CSSD autoclaves, which sterilise all equipment used in theatre. Water recycling allows the hospital to reuse approximately 95% of its water, significantly reducing overall water consumption.
But this responsibility is not just about resources coming into the hospital. It is also about prioritising the responsible disposal of waste items. Waste is separated at the source to ensure compliance, support recycling efforts, and promote responsible waste handling. General recyclables such as paper, plastic, tin, and glass are collected separately and transferred to the on-site recycling area. Food waste is also recovered, while healthcare risk waste is strictly handled by approved, compliant contractors. Mediclinic currently averages about 75% waste diversion from landfill and is consciously working to improve this ratio.
During the relocation process, all general equipment will, as far as reasonably possible, be moved using reusable moving blankets for protection rather than single-use packaging materials. Any boxes used during the move will be returned to the moving company for reuse, in line with our waste‑reduction and sustainability principles.