In 2020, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Foundation took its long-standing commitment to sustainability to a new level by implementing an environmental and energy management system in the Art Nouveau Site. The aim was clear: achieve the dual certification of the norms ISO 14.001:2015 and ISO:50.001:2018 in environmental and energy management, respectively, a milestone that was reached in January this year. The two certificates were awarded after an external audit team certified that the system meets requirements established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a worldwide federation of national standardization bodies that develops standards and their updates.

The certifications guarantee the existence and proper functioning of the management system that serves to define and focus the Foundation’s efforts to reduce the environmental impacts and increase the energy efficiency of activities in the heritage site. The system also serves to deepen voluntary commitments such as the Global Compact and Biosphere Sustainable Tourism and to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”), especially SDGs: 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 17 in relation to health protection, water resources, energy savings, clean energy, cultural heritage, the circular economy, climate action, and biodiversity.

This achievement has its origins in the drafting of environmental and energy technical criteria for the restoration works of the Art Nouveau Site in 2010. Within a few years, five buildings and the entire heritage complex were certified by the US Green Building Council as having met LEEDs criteria (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Likewise, the site’s geothermal energy production facility, with more than 400 wells and a dozen technical rooms, saves a minimum of 30% of the electricity consumption compared to conventional energy supply systems.

As per the requirements of the ISO 14.001 and 50.001 standards, the site’s environmental and energy management policy guides all work in relation to the management system. Key documents include a periodically renewed program of objectives, a set of procedures, records, indicators, and an annual review report, among other key elements that are subject to internal and external certification audits. The 2022 -2023 program of objectives set goals in the areas of biodiversity, the CO2 footprint of events, paper consumption, and green purchasing.

More information on the environmental and energy improvements already achieved in Sant Pau, current projects, and future management challenges can be found on the Art Nouveau Site website, Biosphere Sustainable Tourism, and in the site’s Global Compact Progress Reports.

The Foundation would like to thank Ecogesa S.XXI for the support and guidance received in the implementation, maintenance and certification of the management system.

More information about the environmental and energy management system.