Jun 12 2014
Mayo Clinic was recently honored with two awards from Practice Greenhealth for its efforts in responsible environmental practices.
Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire received the 2014 Practice Greenhealth Emerald Award. This is among the most competitive Practice Greenhealth awards and recognizes health care facilities that have achieved significant improvements in their mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction programs. In addition to energy conservation practices, such as using energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, the Eau Claire site also recycles more than 24 tons of glass, plastic and aluminum and 252 tons of paper. In 2013, its reusable sharps program diverted 22,214 pounds of plastic from the landfill and eliminated the use of 1,716 pounds of cardboard.
“We are proud to be recognized as a leader in developing and implementing programs that protect our environment and the health of our patients, staff and community,” says Gordy Howie, director of Facilities Services-Maintenance at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Howie also is chairman of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce’s Green Business Initiative that works with local businesses in developing environmentally sustainable practices.
Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota received a 2014 Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award. This award recognizes Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester for continuous improvement and expansion of mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction programs. Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus recycles more than 35 percent of its overall waste, is retrocommissioning (improving how building equipment and systems function together) older buildings to increase energy efficiency donates all usable surplus food to local hunger relief efforts and is progressing, and is among many more environmental sustainability initiatives.
“We are honored for this recognition that reflects Mayo Clinic’s commitment to environmental stewardship and health,” says Amanda Holloway, section head of Facilities Operations in Waste Management and Environmental Services and chair of Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Green Committee.
Practice Greenhealth is a national organization of member health care organizations working to increase efficiency and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care through tools, best practices and knowledge.