AKUH's Engineer Dennis Mwangi (right) receives the Award Certificate from Andreas Pfleger (left), Head Advantage, Austria Nairobi
Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N) has been awarded the prestigious National Energy Globe Award by the Energy Globe Foundation Austria for its innovative Biomass Boiler project, launched in September 2023.
The National Energy Globe Award recognizes projects that offer solutions to environmental challenges and promotes the sharing of such solutions globally. By spotlighting these projects, the award inspires other organizations to adopt sustainable practices and work toward minimizing the impact of climate change.
From a pool of 2,000 projects submitted by 141 countries, AKUH, N’s biomass initiative was recognized as the top project in Kenya. The hospital’s achievement is a part of the Energy Globe Foundation’s mission to honor sustainable projects that contribute to the protection of the global environment.
The project, which involves transitioning from diesel to biomass briquettes and other waste materials for heating services such as water heating, laundry, cooking, and sterilization, has drastically reduced the hospital’s reliance on diesel.
In its first year of operations, the project has cut diesel use by 950,000 liters annually, resulting in a significant reduction of 2,000 tons of carbon emissions. This is roughly equivalent to the carbon emissions generated by 700 round trips between Nairobi and Mombasa in an average-sized automobile.
Rashid Khalani, CEO of AKUH, N, stressed the importance of organizations addressing their environmental footprints. “Organizations must consider the environmental impact of their operations and develop solutions to decrease their carbon emissions. At AKUH, N, we are proud to be showcasing what is possible while maintaining the highest quality of care,” said Khalani.
This recognition aligns with the broader goals of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its operations by 2030. As part of this initiative, AKU and its hospitals have already implemented several eco-friendly projects. In 2022, AKUH, N installed a 100KWp solar-powered plant at the Doctor’s Plaza building, which offsets grid power consumption and has helped reduce carbon emissions by 96 tons annually. Additionally, nitrous oxide emissions have been cut by nearly two-thirds over the past two years.
The success of the Biomass Boiler project further solidifies AKUH,N’s role as a leader in sustainable healthcare practices and demonstrates how institutions can contribute to environmental preservation while continuing to provide high-quality care.
