Green Digital Health Tool

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How to use this site

This tool shows you the questions that will need to be answered to implement and maintain a sustainable Digital Health System. You probably won't be able to answer all the questions by yourself, so identify the people that have the knowledge and skills on the different areas covered by this tool and ask them the questions. They might be people in other departments or even some of the suppliers used by your organisation.

Beside the questions you will sometimes see an icon. Clicking on them will provide extra information. Below is a brief explanation of what each icon means:

Why should you ask this questionWhy should you ask this question?


Extra information and resourcesRead more about this subject


ideas that you could trySuggest actions to be taken next

1. Procuring Digital Services, Software and/or Hardware

ideas that you could try Ask your potential suppliers these questions and assess their answers before deciding to use them:
  • Are your operations directly powered by renewable energy?
  • Do you have an (environmental) policy or charter, and if so, does it have third party certification?
  • Are transport emissions included in your energy accounting?
  • Can you provide more information about sustainability indicators beyond renewable energy, such as water usage, waste generation, and biodiversity protection?

Beware of greenwashing. Companies can say they are using renewable energy (or are 'net zero') when in fact, they are still using fossil fuels, by offsetting this use with pro-environmental investments, such as investing in renewable energy elsewhere.Find out more here and here.

Also, some scholars are concerned that the increasing use of renewable energy in the digital sector may draw this energy away from other sectors. Learn more about offsetting, and other relevant terms (such as Power Purchase Agreements), here.


1.2 What services will be supplied by the company or companies you are intending to procure from?

Why should you ask this question Devices includes sensors, phones, laptops, servers and networking components such as switches and routers. Software may be bespoke or off the shelf. Click on the relevant buttons to see a list of questions you should ask suppliers to inform procurement decisions.

Make sure you also consider any training or implementation services you might need for anything you procure. This may be particularly relevant if your supplier(s) are based abroad and / or if your digital health system is not funded beyond an initial period. Building up skills and capacity in your own organisation should make the ongoing management of your digital health system more sustainable economically and therefore more likely to succeed and deliver its positive health outcomes.

devices

software

cloud hosting