Chris Rodinis
https://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/04/26/hospitals-divert-100-million-pounds-from-landfill/
Zero waste from hospitals is a formidable goal. Turns out the “healthier hospitals initiative” is making that goal closer. This project has already diverted more than 100 million pounds of waste from landfills.
The program has 370 member hospitals that contributed to this effort.
The HHI program has six main drivers: lean energy, less waste (zero waste), green chemicals, leadership, green purchasing and healthier food.
Out of the the 370 member group, 172 hospitals took up the waste challenge and out of those 172 there were 44 that reported a “construction material recycling rate of 87.33% in 2012.”
“118 hospitals enrolled in the leaner energy challenge in 2012, providing HHI with their annual energy consumption data through Energy Star Portfolio Manager. On a whole, HHI says its 2012 leaner energy challenge results show “extreme variations” in the healthcare industry’s experience with energy management and progress towards energy efficiency.”
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As for the members average greenhouse gas rating in 2012, that came out to .0243 metric tons per square foot. Previous years average was .0211 metric ton of greenhouse gas per square foot.
Though the greenhouse gas number went up slightly, that is probably because many hospitals have only recently began reporting and have to develop more tactics to lower it.
“The average greenhouse gas intensity of reporting HHI members was just short of 1 percent lower than figures for 2011.”
“During HHI’s 2012 energy reduction campaign, the Colorado hospital employees were asked to turn off lights when leaving a room, turn off monitors at the end of a shift, and unplug energy “vampires” before leaving for the weekend.”
“One hospital, as a result, used 25,678 kWh less than its four-year average for the same time period.”
“Annually the hospital would see electricity savings of $13,797.”
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