A Message from Administration

April 2013

The Department of Green Initiatives focuses on improving Lourdes' environmental efficiency. We have programs that relate to waste management and reduction, energy conservation, environmental education, special events and smaller projects that have a big impact. The past year has been a very productive year:

Waste Management and Reduction

One of Green Initiatives' main goals is to reduce waste through diversion of materials to recycling centers and composting. Our goal for waste reduction is 20%. Not only did we meet our goal, we surpassed it by an additional 13%.

We continue to compost food waste from the cafeteria - approximately 4 tons of food waste per month. About 40% of the food waste from the cafeteria is given to the Feed to Farm program.

We continue to collect, compact and sell our cardboard to a local dealer. We have collected and sold over 90 tons of cardboard with this program, generating approximately $8,000 from what would have been waste.

Energy Conservation

Re-lamping and retrofitting was recently completed. This project will save Lourdes approximately $33,000/ year in energy costs. We received $38,000 in rebates from NYSEG/NYSERDA, giving the project a two year payback and accrued savings after that. We also completed a re-lamping project at offsite facilities which will save about $19,270/year.

Environmental Education

Green Initiatives has created educational opportunities for Binghamton University students. Currently we have eight senior engineering students performing feasibility studies regarding the use of renewable energy sources to further reduce energy costs on campus. We also have an AmeriCorps VISTA member whose grant funded position is to design an environmental education and outreach program targeted towards low income families.

Smaller Projects

• Clearly labeled recycling bins located in public areas.
• Re-labeled and differentiated the colored bag system used for trash, recyclables and regulated waste in the OR.
• Began recycling batteries from devices that are on battery replacement schedules. After the batteries are replaced, they are then sent to the Bio-Med Department to be disposed of. If they still have a good amount of power left, these batteries are collected from Bio-Med, tested then set aside for staff for home use. (These batteries will be available at the Earth Day Celebration on April 16). 

Awards and Recognition

• Lourdes received the Practice Green Health Environmental Excellence Award: Partner Recognition for 2012. The Partner Recognition Award is for healthcare facilities that have begun to work on environmental improvements, have achieved progress in several areas, and have at least 10% recycling rate for their total waste stream along with additional qualifications.
• The Green Initiatives Department was asked to join a three person panel on Health Care and Sustainability by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) held in Cooperstown, NY in 2012.
• The Green Initiatives' proposal for the presentation of Leveraging Sustainability with Waste Contracts - Lessons Learned at Ascension Health and Hospital Corporation of America was selected by the CleanMed 2013 committee and will be presented at the CleanMed 2013 conference in Boston, MA.