Healthcare is a significant contributor to global warming.
Each year, the HSE nationally emits around 230 million tonnes of carbon.
A recent study by the Department of Health found that just 28% of the top 120 energy users in the Health Service Executive exceeded a B3 energy rating, with A rated buildings being the most efficient.
The top three energy users in the HSE are University Hospital Galway, Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.
In the University Hospital Limerick group, a series of measures have been taken to cut the carbon footprint.
Renewable energy is being sourced with solar panels on a 60-bed block at University Hospital Limerick.
LED lighting upgrades have also been installed in the hospital.
A modern combined heat and power system generates free electricity for 80% of the older hospital and will mean €30,000 a year in carbon credits a year, the HSE says.
Rainwater harvesting is being used at Ennis Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital was the first acute HSE facility in the country to be upgraded from oil or gas burners to air source heat pumps.
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The HSE says it has reduced carbon emissions at UHL by around 4% since 2016.
The hospital says that it has saved six million kilowatt hours, the equivalent of powering 1,000 homes.
Keith Brazil, HSE Estates Chief Assistant Technical Services Officer, said that nationally the HSE has reduced its carbon emissions by around 30 million tonnes, which he described as a substantial saving.
He said that the HSE was 13.5% into its climate action plan target.
The HSE has said that all new buildings are constructed to an A rating standard and that for the majority of older buildings, retrofitting to a B2 rating standard would be a significant increase on current levels of energy efficiency.
The Irish Doctors for the Environment has said that the health service needs to declare climate change a health emergency and that hospitals must take specific measures on procurement and re-use of certain equipment.
Dr Ana Rakovac, Co-chair Sustainable Healthcare Group, Irish Doctors for the Environment and consultant chemical pathologist said that climate emergency is a health emergency and that healthcare needs to be the leader in the reversal from the precipice.
She said that procurement is 70% of Irish healthcare greenhouse gas contributions and that it is important that the HSE set very clear rules on how to procure hopefully reusable, rather than recyclable equipment and products.
Dr Rakovac said that hospitals should use products that do not contribute to climate change, including moving away from some anesthetic gases and a move away from meter dose inhalers towards dry power inhalers and mist inhalers.
The HSE is preparing a national strategy on the issues and the Irish Doctors for the Environment has been involved in the consultation process.
Dr Rakovac said she hoped the outcome will be a HSE strategy with clear targets, mechanisms and deadlines.
