References & Tools

This section houses key frameworks, research, and tools supporting healthcare decarbonization efforts. Explore the resources below to deepen your understanding and guide your climate action planning.

The Low-Carbon PEACH Tree

A roadmap for reducing hospital emissions and costs.

Illustration of the Low-Hanging PEACH Tree showing hospital interventions organized by cost and GHG savings impact

What is the PEACH Tree?

The PEACH Tree (Practice-based Energy and Carbon Health Tree) is a knowledge translation tool developed by PEACH Health Ontario, led by Dr. Myles Sergeant and collaborators. It visualizes hospital interventions that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs across seven key categories:

Leadership
Education
Buildings & Energy
Drugs & Devices
Supply Chain
Food
Transportation

The tree metaphor helps healthcare teams identify both the "low-hanging fruit"—simple, cost-saving interventions—and the "higher-hanging fruit" that require greater investment but lead to long-term transformation.

Understanding the Diagram

The PEACH Tree diagram uses visual cues to help you quickly identify the most impactful interventions for your healthcare facility. Here is how to read it:

Impact Level Legend
Game ChangerGame Changer
High-impact interventions with significant emissions reduction
>100 tonnes CO₂e
Difference MakerDifference Maker
Moderate-impact interventions with measurable benefits
>50 tonnes CO₂e
Needle NudgerNeedle Nudger
Smaller-scale interventions that contribute to overall goals
>0.5 tonnes CO₂e
Cost & Time Indicators
💰Cost Savings
Interventions that reduce operational costs
Financial benefit
🕒Implementation Time
Estimated time from planning to full deployment
Varies by solution

How to Use This Tool

1. Identify Your Priorities

Start by assessing your facility's current emissions profile and available resources. Consider both quick wins and long-term strategic goals.

2. Explore Solutions by Category

Browse the seven categories to find interventions that align with your operational areas and expertise. Each solution includes implementation guidance and case studies.

3. Assess Impact vs. Effort

Use the impact level indicators to balance high-impact "Game Changers" with easier-to-implement "Needle Nudgers" for a comprehensive approach.

4. Build Your Action Plan

Create a phased implementation plan that combines multiple interventions across categories for maximum impact and sustainability.

Ready to Take Action?

Explore our comprehensive Solutions Atlas to find detailed implementation guides, case studies, and evidence-based strategies for each intervention on the PEACH Tree.

Browse All SolutionsLearn How to Take Action

More resources coming soon

We are actively expanding this section to include additional frameworks, research summaries, and practical tools to support healthcare decarbonization and implementation efforts.