Balancing Carbon Reduction with Patient Care
Helping Hospitals Align Climate Goals with Operational Realities
The Situation
In response to New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and New York City’s Local Law 97, hospitals across the region faced an urgent challenge: dramatically reducing carbon emissions while maintaining the energy resiliency essential for patient care.
Leaders recognized the need for a unified strategy—one that could meet government mandates without compromising safety, reliability, or financial stability.
The Approach
North Star Strategies facilitated a structured collaboration among 112 participants representing hospitals, state and city agencies, engineering firms, architects, consultants, associations, and suppliers.
Through a virtual dialogue process, participants contributed 176 opinions and 1,843 explanations about decarbonization, compliance, and resiliency. Using structured analysis and alignment tools, we identified the key points of agreement and contention, sequencing them into the most efficient path for resolution.
These insights shaped the design of a two-day New York Healthcare Decarbonization Summit, where 43 representatives developed 44 new agreements and 101 actionable steps to create a shared roadmap.
The Outcome
The collaboration produced the New York Healthcare Decarbonization Guide, the cornerstone resource of the New York Healthcare Protocol (NYHP)—an ongoing initiative led by the ASHRAE New York City Chapter, with support from other ASHRAE Chapters and regional leadership.
The Guide equips hospitals with practical tools to assess facilities, plan decarbonization projects, and secure funding—all while balancing carbon reduction with resiliency and patient safety.
It has become a foundational reference for healthcare systems across New York and a model for other states preparing to meet ambitious climate mandates.