Facility-wide environmental programs at Ontario's Cambridge Memorial Hospital earned the overall prize in the inaugural Green Health Awards, sponsored by the Ontario Hospital Association and the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (www.greenhealthcare.ca). The hospital has reduced the amount of waste produced by 28%, increased recycling by 284% and saves $5000 annually on biomedical waste disposal alone. It was the first hospital in North America to become ISO 14001 certified for its comprehensive environmental assessment system.
The coalition represents 12 groups, including the CMA. The Green Health Awards recognize “those who have done great work,” says spokesperson Rich Whate. “We hope they inspire others.”
At the Nov. 4 ceremony, the award for energy efficiency went to Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe, Ont., which now saves $132 000 annually in energy costs.
The pollution-prevention award for reducing emissions and switching to green products was presented to St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener, Ont., which reduced biomedical waste by 20%.
The outstanding individual award recognizes the work of Valerie O'Grady of Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. O'Grady, the hospital's environmental program coordinator, started an energy-efficiency program and massive waste-reduction campaign, which included a public commitment to reduce the amount of mercury being discarded. A project encouraging employees to turn off their lights and computers now saves the hospital about $400 000 annually.
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