Chosen as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2011:
By Kristina Leung and Richard Yerema, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editor
(
Apr 20, 2011)
Some of the reasons why Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2011):
hosts an annual "Earth Matters Symposium" every fall to highlight its energy conservation and environmental initiatives for employees, physicians, volunteers and students -- also manages a public website and blog that serves as a ongoing forum to solicit feedback from employees on current programs
publishes an environmentally-focused newsletter (called Green Sunnybrook) as well as a dedicated website and blog -- and made a very strong statement through the hiring of a "Manager of Environmental Sustainability" to oversee and plan the hospital's ongoing and future environmental initiatives -- has also hired a student to assist in promoting initiatives
recently introduced a computer power management program (called "NightWatchman") to power down unused computer equipment at night, as well as a sub-metering program to help better determine energy peaks across the hospital campus
continues to introduce new waste management programs, including enhanced recycling and reuse programs (and reduction initiatives), composting programs, use of environmentally friendly cleaning products as well as a unique flourescent bulb "eater" machine that breaks down bulbs into recyclable material while capturing 99.99% of the potentially harmful vapors
is currently in the midst of a $28 million facility renewal initiative, installing energy efficient lighting, upgrading heating and air conditioning systems, and adding state-of-the-art building automation systems -- with the aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by a projected 9,000 metric tons when complete
as part of its facility renewal program, the hospital completed the installation of an impressive solar photovoltaic array (the largest in the healthcare industry) that's architecturally-integrated into an existing structure and today is quietly (and cleanly) able to produce to 100 killowatts of clean energy from the sun
in a unique healthcare initiative (in response to feedback from anesthesiologists in 2004) the hospital installed a unique Canadian-made anesthetic gas absorption technology to reduce (by 95 percent) the amount of waste gas released into the environment -- preventing the release of over 470 tonnes of CO2-equivalent gases into the atmosphere (which is about the equivalent of removing 150 cars from the road)
is using hybrid vehicles for its security personnel and Smart cars for parking and transportation staff -- and recently set-up an on-campus short-term rental program with the local ZIP Car program for patients and staff
has added large secure bike cages at four separate locations on the campus to encourage employees to make the switch to commuting on two wheels
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