Health Sector in Vanguard of Clean Energy Programs Targeting Health, Environment
In recent months, three U.S. hospitals signed energy contracts that will save over $1.7 million in energy costs, provide them with up to 10 percent clean energy. The green energy will avoid 11,829 metric tons of CO2 being released to our atmosphere, which is equivalent to taking 2,052 cars off the road or not burning 56 railcars' worth of coal. Some of the human health benefits will include avoiding over 200 respiratory illnesses. These hospitals are among the first participants in Practice Greenhealth's Clean Energy Solutions program, established to help the U.S. health care sector switch to cleaner, renewable energy sources.
The health sector comprises 16 percent of the U.S. economy and spends $6.5 billion each year on energy, almost all of which is generated by the burning of fossil fuels, associated with chronic illnesses such as asthma, and heart and lung disease. Through its Clean Energy Solutions program, Practice Greenhealth, a subsidiary of Health Care Without Harm, provides tools, training and guidance to hospitals on reducing energy consumption, installing renewable energy sources, and purchasing clean energy. Only two years old, Practice Greenhealth is a rapidly growing membership organization for hospitals developing sustainable operations. Its 1000+ membership includes most of the major hospital and health systems in the country.
"Energy is a critical area to address for climate change, because hospitals are the second most energy intensive buildings in the country," said Nick DeDominicis, Vice President of Clean Energy Solutions at Practice Greenhealth. "These benefits of using clean energy are much more than cost savings -- in fact, the benefits to public health from reduced greenhouse gasses are directly related to the reduction in fossil fuel use, and can be quantified."