Tools and resources

Leaner energy fact sheet

• Energy
• Guide

The Practice Greenhealth leaner energy framework challenges hospitals to meet the baseline objective and take on three goals to help hospitals protect people from the harm of pollution stemming from energy use. The goals were selected for their positive impact on human health and the environment, as well as their potential to drive increased energy-efficient equipment and services in the…

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Guidance to achieve green cleaning goal

• Guide
• Chemicals
• Green Cleaning

This document provides guidance for hospitals working to meet the requirements of the green cleaning goal of the safer chemicals challenge. We encourage hospitals to go beyond the green cleaning goal where possible. This document includes information to assess progress against the green cleaning goal.

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Greenhouse gas reduction toolkit

• Climate and Health
• Mitigation
• Greenhouse Gas
• Toolkit

Climate change is the greatest public health threat and opportunity of the 21st century. To reduce the health impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced, and hospitals have an essential role to play. Solving health problems always starts with setting a goal. Establishing a clear, ambitious target can motivate staff and help drive strategies for success. Practice…

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Greenhouse gas inventory tool

• Climate and Health
• Mitigation
• Greenhouse Gas
• Toolkit

(Greenhouse gas reduction toolkit) There are three primary steps in completing a GHG inventory: Define: The first step in completing a GHG inventory is to determine the boundaries and emissions sources included within those boundaries. After you have defined your organizational and operational boundaries and identified a baseline year, you can begin to collect data on the relevant emissions.…

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Leadership pitch slides

• Climate and Health
• Greenhouse Gas
• Mitigation
• Toolkit

(Greenhouse gas reduction toolkit) Setting a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal is imperative to making progress. As the saying goes, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” But goal setting begins with engaging leadership in the process. These slides are designed to help you pitch greenhouse gas reduction ideas and initiatives to your leadership.

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How-to guide

• Climate and Health
• Mitigation
• Greenhouse Gas
• Toolkit

(Greenhouse gas reduction toolkit) Climate change is the greatest public health threat and opportunity of the 21st century. To reduce the health impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced, and hospitals have an essential role to play. Solving health problems always starts with setting a goal. Establishing a clear, ambitious target can motivate staff and help drive…

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Executive summary

• Climate and Health
• Mitigation
• Greenhouse Gas
• Toolkit

(Greenhouse gas reduction toolkit) Climate change is the greatest public health threat and opportunity of the 21st century. To reduce the health impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced, and hospitals have an essential role to play. Solving health problems always starts with setting a goal. Establishing a clear, ambitious target can motivate staff and help drive…

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Partners HealthCare: Filtered water

• Less Waste
• Waste
• Solid waste
• Water
• Tap water access

The adoption of a plumbed-in filtered water system into Partners HealthCare McLean Hospital, in Boston, has resulted in the elimination of plastic bottles. In the inpatient areas alone: The FY08 baseline water per patient day expense was $0.97. By FY2011, patient per day expense was reduced to $.02. Annual recurring savings estimated at $38,000 (comparing FY08 to subsequent years). The hospital…

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Partners HealthCare and Roxbury Technology: Toner and ink recycling case study

• Case Study
• Waste
• Solid waste

Partners HealthCare, based in Boston, uses thousands of imaging products (ink and toner cartridges) for printing, copying, and faxing. Ink and toner cartridges, when not recycled usually end up in landfills. As part of its sustainability and Patient Affordability program, Partner’s sought to grow a closed loop manufacturing process in partnership with Roxbury Technology and to prevent cartridges…

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Vidant Health: Waste reduction case study

• Waste
• Solid waste
• Case Study

Critical access hospitals such as the 6-bed Vidant Bertie and the 49-bed Vidant Chowan in eastern North Carolina, can make significant improvements in waste reduction despite the relatively small volumes of waste they generate. By installing a recycling dumpster at Bertie and compactors at Chowan, EVS Manager Lizbeth White has seen a 34 percent decrease in cost of solid waste removal at one…

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