Representatives of Hocking Valley Community Hospital recently attended the Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting & Education Summit to receive two awards for best practices in environmental sustainability.
HVCH was given the Encouraging Environmental Excellence Award presented by Dan Sowry, assistant chief of the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance. The hospital also was given the Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership Award.
The Encouraging Environmental Excellence Award recognizes applicants for completing environmentally-beneficial activities. Applications are evaluated using environmental stewardship criteria developed by the Ohio EPA.
Named after the retired CEO of East Liverpool City Hospital and first chair of OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council, the Melvin Creeley Award recognizes hospitals that promote sound environmental practices through the implementation of waste reduction programs, recycling initiatives and other activities to preserve the health of the planet for future generations.
HVCH is nearing completion of a $2.1 million energy conversation project that qualified the hospital for these awards. The project includes the retrofitting of all internal and external lights to LED as well as installing motion light sensors throughout the hospital, and mechanical systems upgrades replacing the 50-year-old boilers and 37-year-old chillers.
“The hospital received $2.1 million in Qualified Energy Conservation Bond financing for the installation of the new energy efficiency and conversation system from the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority,” HVCH CEO & President Julie Stuck said. “We wanted to maximize efficiencies and account for any future expansion to the building so that we had additional room for growth.”
Additional upgrades include building automation control upgrades and retro commissioning water conservation measures such as domestic fixture replacement and retrofits.
Overall the hospital will realize an estimated $157,000 per year in energy savings and $2 million over 15 years.
“This energy conversation project greatly benefits the community by reducing annual energy use by 28 percent, reducing water consumption by 37 percent and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent,” Stuck shared.
In comparison, the reduction in emissions as a result of this project is the equivalent to removing 183 passenger vehicles from the road or the amount of electricity used by 120 residential homes in one year.
“It is an honor to know that we have been recognized for our efforts at HVCH. This is one more example of how we are leading the way to a healthier community,” Stuck said.
Hocking Valley is a community non-profit hospital with an emergency department, urgent care and a wide variety of clinical, specialty and outpatient services
. For more information, contact the Community Relations office at (740) 380-8336.