In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, we conducted a pilot to reduce Nitrous Oxide leakage at the Holland campus. Nitrous Oxide is a harmful greenhouse gas that causes 300 times more global warming potential than CO2. The pilot was able to reduce the waste from 99% to 20% with moving to the smaller tanks located on the anesthetic machines. This is the annual carbon equivalent of planting 1,450 seedlings at the Holland centre every year and letting them grow for 10 years.
Today, we are moving to place small nitrous oxide cylinders on each anesthetic machine and turn off the larger manifold located near receiving. All machines have been disconnected from wall outlets.
Plant Ops will be capping off the lines in each OR
There are 2 spare tanks located in Equipment room behind the OR desk, as well 5 spare located in tank room near receiving on 1st floor
The threshold for changing the tanks is 400 psi.
When spare tank is pulled by AA to replace on the anesthetic machine, they will let desk know to request porters to replace the spare from 1st floor.
As tank number decrease in tank room, porters will inform Plant Ops (Louie/Kan) to place another order. Tanks usually arrive within 2-3 days.
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Barb
Barbara McArthur RN, MN, CPN(C)
Patient Care Manager
Holland OR & Related Services
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
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