Mercy Medical Center receives 9th consecutive EPA ENERGY STAR certification

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Tags: Mercy Medical Center , health care

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Mercy Medical Center was recently awarded the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification for the 9th consecutive year. Mercy is one of only four hospitals in the United States, and the only one in Ohio, to earn this designation nine years in a row. Each year the hospital’s main campus, a facility of 1 million square feet that’s a blend of old and new construction, saves more than $1 million in energy costs, for a total of approximately $9.5 million since receiving its first ENERGY STAR in 2009.

Paul Hiltz, FACHE, interim CEO of Mercy, says a cost savings like this crucial in the midst of the continuously changing health care industry.

“The delivery of quality, affordable health care services in keeping with Mercy’s long-standing mission has never been more important,” he says. “The savings Mercy realizes through energy efficiency helps us invest more on behalf of our patients and their families. It also reflects the hospital’s long-standing commitment to protect the environment and public health.”

ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide, based on weather-normalized source energy use that takes into account occupancy, hours of operation, and other key metrics. ENERGY STAR is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance.

On average, ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants use 35 percent less energy, cause 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate than their peers—all without sacrifices in performance or comfort.

In addition to energy conservation, Mercy has implemented many other green initiatives, including house-wide recycling of glass, aluminum, plastics, paper, light bulbs, batteries, cardboard, and lab chemicals. These efforts keep thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills annually.

For more information about Mercy’s conservation efforts, visit cantonmercy.org/green.