GOING GREEN and has pushed us to continuouslywork toward making adifference .”
Each medical center hosts a beehive to aid in ecological restoration available forviewingby staff , patients and visitors . Manyof the medical centers have their own gardens and relationships with local farms as well as community gardens to provide locally sourced food and in recognition as a sustainable neighbor .
In 2019 , Atlantic Health partnered with Green Vision , alocal recycling company thatteaches adolescent students and adults with autism howto dismantle and recycle unwanted electronics or e-waste . �astyear , AtlanticHealth recycled more than � , 000lbs . ofe-waste . Ongoingcommunications through education and outreach regardingcorporate socialresponsibility initiativeshelptokeeppatients , visitors , staff and thecommunities they serve engagedand is acrucial factor in Atlantic Health System ’ senvironmental mission .
ENGLEWOOD HEALTH
Englewood Health has undertaken abig “ green ” initiative . Now three years into the projectand 90� completed , the hospital has converted over �0,000fluorescent lamps to �ED lighting translating to 5.4 million kilowatts / year in reduced energy use and �485,000 / year in savings . As part of the plan , thehospital has putlighting sensors that automatically turn on and off when enteringorleavinganareaintheir stairwells , offices and garages asanother wayto reduce energyconsumption and impactthe earth .
With the increase in electric cars , charging stationshave beeninstalled in both the public and employeeparking areas . As plans are formalizedfor internal renovations , the hospital is implementing as many initiatives aspossible to reduce their carbon footprint . Anew ICU has been designed with energy efficiency top of mind and the hospital has awarded a�4 million dollar contract to replace two main boilers which will result in enormous energysavings .
“ After COVID , there ’ s one take away for certain . This pandemic wasagame-changer and we had to learntoadapt very quickly ,” says HarveyWeber , Vice President , Facilities Management �Emergency Preparedness .“ We had to do away with
PHOTOCO��TESY O� E�G�E�OO� HEA�TH
Harvey�e�er , �ice President , �acilities Management �Emergency Preparedness at Engle�ood Health , oversees constructionofa CO�I�-�� patientroom .
many of our recycling methods , particularly in the food services department . But as we getbacktosomenormalcy , we are returning to reusable trays and recyclable products .”
Englewood takes its role as a community leader and responsibility to deliver care very seriously . During Superstorm Sandy , the hospitalworkedwiththe local energy management office to operate on five interconnectedgenerators . This miniaturepowergrid system enabled the hospital to offer its neighbors avenue to eatameal , chargetheir phones and have a warm place to go .
“ We are a small city . We are constantly thinking , planning and strategizing on ways to become greener and greener ,” concludes Weber .
HOLYNAME MEDICALCENTER
In addition to their high-quality healthcare services , Holy Name is making important strides in a clean energy future by reducing itscarbonfootprint . Holy Name participates in a Carbon Abatement Program in concert withPSE�G . The reduction in electricity usage is equivalent to planting 100,000 seedlings per year or in greater terms about one million seedlings over 10 years .
TriggeredbyCOVID-19 , thehospital built a state-of-the-art ICU . The sophisticated complexis100�pandemic efficient including touchless systems , solar shades and plant-based flooring . Technologically and environmentallyadvanced , the complex has eliminated all paper and operates entirely on screens .
By installing free-standing Hydration Stations with flavored waters throughout thehospital , theyhaveeliminated 50� of theirsingle-use water bottle usage . A coffee program encourages staff tobuy a mug and save on papercups . “ These little things addup ,” explainsStevenMosser , Executive Vice President of Operations , who oversees all aspects of creating a sustainableoperation . Cactussinks are an easy “ green ” waste solution forseparating partially administered pharmaceuticals . Additionally , the hospital ’ s food area sends its scraps to pig farmscontributing to the energy source of the animals . All plastic straws have been converted to paper .
�ast year approximately66tons of plastic was diverted from the landfill as a result of Holy Name ’ s involvement in an approved reusable sharps program . In addition to the hospital ’ s sharps , they actively collect sharps from the surrounding community . Holy Name will save between �208,000 to �260,000 annuallyby diverting reusable sharps from the landfill .
“ We all have a responsibility to care for our environment , but hereatHolyName , it is fundamental because we opened under theleadership of the Sistersof St . Joseph of Peace ,” says Mosser . “ One of the foundational principles of the Sisters of St . Joseph states the Earth is sacred .” By sharing ideas with thechurch ’ s “ �and Ethics Committee ,” the hospital is able to expand effortsthat haveasignificant effect on green initiatives .
Holy Name has alsoestablished an important program with UrbanRenewal Corp , acommunitybasednon-profit organization thatprovides avariety of essential social services to vulnerable populations in New Jersey . One hundred percent of the hospital ’ s universal and electronic waste is recycled equivalent to 6,000lbs . lastyear . Additionally , approximately14,000 lbs . ofRCRA hazardous � non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste wasdivertedtoalicensedincineration destruction facility .
One of thehospital ’ s proudest efforts is a relationship with their Haiti counterpart . Through support and extensiverecycling of outdated wares , HolyName providesabeacon of hope and enhances the level of careto Haiti ’ s impoverishedfacility .
PREPARED BY THE ADVERTISING DEPT . | THE RECORD HEALTH QUARTERLY | SPRING 2021
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