Healthcare currently accounts for 16% of our nation’s GDP, and is expected to rise to 20% by the year 2015. Hospitals are great employers, too – 4.6 million people with their 24/7 operations. They also spend about $8.3 billion each year on energy, are often the largest water users in a community, and produce over 2 million tons of waste per year. Aha! I see a greening opportunity here.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization dedicated to education and the “greening” of healthcare. I attended a session of the Greenhealth Academy titled, Infrastructure & Process for Sustainability in Healthcare. An educational session of Practice Greenhealth’s program, it was held at the LEED Certified Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development Center in LaJolla, CA.

This is good stuff. Looking at environmental opportunities through the lens of health improvement versus just sustainability. Connecting human health and the environment. Going beyond creating a healing facility to using the precautionary principle, to first do no harm, to create a healing environment. Herein lies an opportunity to educate staff and patients about commitment to community, to health, and to the environment. And what better venue for this to happen than in a health care setting?

There are really some very standard areas and strategies going toward sustainability in healthcare, but there needs to be good leadership and quality engagement in order for it to be successful long-term. In my consulting work at Eco-Stream, I have addressed Energy, Water, Waste, Transportation, Purchasing, Food, and Engagement. Practice Greenhealth offers members the opportunity to access resources, case studies, and lessons learned from others. There is a fabulous opportunity here for connections to be made to the benefit of all.

]]> http://www.eco-stream.com/2010/07/practice-practice-practice-greenhealth/feed/ 0 http://www.eco-stream.com/2010/07/practice-practice-practice-greenhealth/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/eco-stream/~3/SkEqX_Aoxvc/ http://www.eco-stream.com/2010/07/are-you-ok-are-you-ok-call-911/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:16:20 +0000 Eco-Stream http://www.eco-stream.com/?p=1846 WILL YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY?

What if one of your co-workers has an accident or a heart attack? What if you are jogging in the park and see someone in distress? What if you are in a restaurant and one of your family members begins to choke and cannot breath? Will you know what to do?

I participated in a CPR/First Aid class at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce that answered many of these questions for me! What an informative and wonderful class. I learned so much! Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas provided the wonderfully trained staff that teach these classes at businesses, as well as at the hospital. Super staff, great instruction, and really – a lot of fun, too.

In America we have increasing rates of obesity, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, and cardiovascular disease — almost every chronic disease of aging.  The vast majority of these chronic diseases are related to diet and exercise. And that is the main reason I entered the field of sustainability –  for me it was about sustainable food systems! I was trying to care for and feed my young family “real food” in an age of “fake food” and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. I wanted to make a difference by influencing a more sustainable society.

I feel fortunate today to be working with businesses and community leaders who have the power to influence our future in a more positive, healthful, and sustainable way. Scripps Memorial Hospital Encintas is a wonderful example of that influence. Earlier this year the hospital embarked on a major facility-wide “Green Initiative”. The goal of an inspired leadership was to make a connection between human health and the environment, and to be an example and a leader for their community.

I feel fortunate to be working with them on this plan; and confident that they will have a great influence on the community and the region in their sustainability efforts. Human health and the environment are intricately linked.

If you want to make sure that someone around you will know what to do in an emergency, or if you want to ensure the health and safety of your loved ones, I encourage you to call 760-633-6791 or email ENCWellBeing@Scrippshealth.org to schedule a class for your business, or your family & friends, and tailored to your specific needs! Awesome, fun, and all about your health, safety, and sustainability!

As part of the health-care sector’s drive for increased sustainability, six leading health-care systems have formed the Healthier Hospitals Initiative (HHI) to help accelerate the sector’s shift toward environmental sustainability.

In April last year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Hospital Energy Alliance (HEA) to drive energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions in the health-care sector. Local and regional energy and water providers are also offering programs to assist in conservation efforts.

Kaiser Permanente is in the process of rolling out it’s “Sustainability Scorecard” for medical suppliers, the power of which has been compared to the WalMart Sustainability Index and Packaging Scorecard. This is a “purchasing initiative to drive sustainability and workplace safety, and designed to improve the public’s health”.

With the understanding that “Kaiser Permanente spends more than $1 billion each year on medical products”, this new initiative will have far-reaching benefits to all medical facilities looking for more sustainable and healthful purchasing options.

Just last year the American Medical Association (AMA) approved a new Sustainable Food Policy. Research supports that locally produced and organic foods “reduce the use of fuel, decrease the need for packaging and resultant waste disposal, preserve farmland … [and] the related reduced fuel emissions contribute to cleaner air and in turn, lower the incidence of asthma attacks and other respiratory problems.” And already more than 250 hospitals have signed the Health Care Without Harm’s (HCWH) Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge, which promotes sustainable food systems in their facilities.

Large and small, local and national, medical facilities are embarking on plans and programs that contribute to better human health, resource conservation, and community engagement. And what better places to be examples for us all than our health care centers? Connecting human health and the environment benefits us all.

I saw a great documentary called “GASLAND“. It was created by a landowner, Josh Fox,  in upstate New York who was offered money by the natural gas drilling industry to drill on his land. He wondered how such a seemingly wonderful offer could come his way. Just let them drill on his land and he could get $100,000, just like that. He decided to look into it and what he found out changed his life and inspired him to create this telling film. This is his story, this is the story of hydraulic fracturing (aka “fracking”), but this is also our American story of energy demand. As natural gas is now deemed the future of clean energy by some, we should know the whole “fracking” story. This is happening all over our country; and we can expect more of it here and abroad.

Watch a visual of  ”fracking” “Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a means of natural gas extraction employed in deep natural gas well drilling. Once a well is drilled, millions of gallons of water, sand and “proprietary chemicals” are injected, under high pressure, into a well. The pressure fractures the shale and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well.” Land owners that Josh Fox interviewed across the country all had similar stories of polluted drinking water and toxic air surrounding these frack wells. A  Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire.

Because of a loophole in the 2005 Energy Bill, the natural gas drilling industry is exempted from the Safe Drinking Water Act. But guess what, “for each frack, 80-300 tons of chemicals may be used”. This loophole also does not require the disclosure of what those proprietary chemicals are.  Even though “scientists have identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene”.

Watch the Trailer here.

There is currently a House Bill intended to repeal the “Halliburton Loophole”, as it is called, and to require the natural gas industry to disclose the chemicals they use.  It is called the FRAC Act (Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness to Chemical Act). It is our moral and democratic responsibility to understand this and voice our opinions to our legislators.  Perhaps drilling for natural gas is one of our alternatives for cleaner energy, but we certainly still need to ensure that our water, soil, and air is protected in the process.  Get informed; make you own decisions.

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Angela Miller from North County Transit District (NCTD) spoke at the Carlsbad Chamber Sustainability Committee Meeting.  The crowd was wowed! From those who understand large data center and technology needs to those who work from a home office, there was much to learn.

Think about what may seem like a simple concept:  cooling. Does even your personal data device create heat?  Ms. Miller encouraged us to think about our “technology footprint”.  Do you have more computer technology devices than you did last year?  Have you increased your energy demand based on increased computing demand?  Consider the energy necessary just to cool even a small data center filled with computer servers. Or consider a small home office filled with computer and printer devices.

Here in north San Diego County, and nationally via the Public Transportation Association, NCTD is a leader in sustainability. We have special challenges in our area; we are in a well developed urban sprawl designed for automobile transit. There are some fabulous little communities mixed in though, and this is where our lessons lie. What makes a community? What makes people want to hang out in the street or on the stoop? What design principles must be incorporated into our new urban design that will create an environment of  ”community”?

How can we develop our communities in a way that allows us to live and work and play with options to the expense, stress, and impact of driving our personal vehicles?

The Sustainable Sites Initiative is a Voluntary and National set of guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction, and maintenance practices.

It’s like LEED for Landscapes!  As a matter of fact, the U.S. Green Building Council is a stakeholder in the Initiative, and they anticipate incorporating these guidelines and performance benchmarks into the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.

Locally, here in San Diego County, we have three different project types that are participating in this program.  One Public Park, one Corporate Headquarters, and one Brew House/Organic Restaurant. One in Escondido, one in Encinitas, and one in La Mesa. Three local cities who should be proud that these three projects are in their cities, and can serve as a model and an inspiration for others.

From the Sustainable Sites Initiative website:

HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. Headquarters Landscape Conversion
La Mesa, California
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc.; HELIX Environmental Construction Group
Description: The project is a landscape conversion of the HELIX headquarters from an over-watered lawn to a multi-use garden with native plants, walking paths, seating, gathering areas, compost bin, and food garden. The project will address runoff with potential detention basins, bioswales, or cisterns. Employee input shapes the project, which is a source of pride for the workers and the company.

Cottonwood Creek Park
Encinitas, California
Project Type: Open space – Park
Project Team: Schmidt Design Group, Inc., Nolte Associates Inc., Helix Environmental Planning, Inc., Turpin and Rattan Engineering, Inc., Southland Geotechnical Consultants
Description: This 8-acre neighborhood park is notable for its incorporation of low impact development storm water practices. Two creeks were daylighted to create native riparian habitat; pervious concrete in walkways, driveway, and parking lot provides infiltration; and bioswales improve the quality of urban runoff that flows through the park. Interpretive signage informs park visitors about the watershed, plants, and animals of the riparian habitat and sustainably harvested IPE wood was used for observation decks and fencing.

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Escondido, California
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Schmidt Design Group, Inc., Stone Brewing Co.
Description: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens was created as a park-like environment for dining, relaxing, exploration, and special events. The project represents an important concept in combining recreation with stormwater management and water quality improvements. Thousands of tons of local stone were used for walls and other decorative features and the planting palette is intentionally eclectic but grounded in regionally appropriate and edible species.

More information about the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

June first is the application deadline for the 2010 Small Business Energy Star Award! Don’t wait. If you are a small business that has worked to improve energy performance at your company over the past two years, you are eligible to apply. Preference is shown to businesses that have used ENERGY STAR tools and resources to achieve success, but it is not mandatory.

Once you provide some general business information, you get to tell your story. How have you demonstrated success in achieving energy efficiency? And how did you utilize Energy Star Tools? You can achieve 100 points in total: 75 for your story; and 25 for your Annual Savings in energy and dollars.

You can achieve 25 points toward the award simply by having utilized the Energy Star Tools. It’s really easy. There is no reason to recreate the wheel here when DOE and EPA have already done the research to develop a great suite of tools. Benchmarking commercial buildings with Energy Star Portfolio Manager is mandated by law in order to buy, lease, or sell. Some local utilities only provide rebates for buildings which have been Energy Star benchmarked. It really makes sense – and is a great way to start an energy efficiency program.

Have you seen the Energy Star logo before? 75% of Americans have been shown to recognize this Energy Star brand. Many people already purchase Energy Star rated equipment for their homes and businesses. If our Commercial Buildings are also Energy Star rated, we can use this information to save resources and make our businesses more energy efficient. We can also use this information in lease negotiations. Estimated energy costs over the term of a lease can become a negotiating point.

So Apply Today if you have already been working on energy efficiency in your business. Or if you’re just getting started, you can use the Energy Star tools and can share your successes next year.

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Nordson ASYMTEK is a world leader in automated fluid dispensing, jetting and conformal coating. They design and manufacture a full line of equipment for semiconductor package assembly, printed circuit board assembly, LED assembly, FPD assembly, life science product assembly and other precision manufacturing.

Nordson MARCH is the global leader in plasma cleaning and treatment equipment, and plasma applications technology. The company has been engaged in the plasma equipment business for more than 25 years and has broad experience in the areas of advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly, wafer level packaging (WLP), printed circuit board manufacturing, life science & medical device assembly, and various large-scale industrial applications.

Nordson YESTech is a worldwide leader in the design, development and manufacture of advanced automated optical (AOI) and x-ray inspection (AXI) solutions for the PCBA and advanced semiconductor packaging industries.

Eco-Stream began working with the Nordson companies’ Green Team. They had already established a green team, a green policy, and targeted initiatives. It was time to have a review and develop next steps. Their green policy showed a commitment to:

* Designing for the Environment
* Eco-friendly Operations
* Conserving Natural Resources
* Waste Reduction and Recycling
* Employee Engagement
* Community Involvement
* Exceeding Environmental Regulation

Nordson already has a list of sustainability related accomplishments that include: starting a green team; a recycling program, re-lamping and installing motion sensor lighting to reduce energy demand; product enhancements to reduce waste; more sustainable packaging on shipments of equipment; and community & employee engagement.

They get a very high score for a great start, follow-through, and even reporting. It is so very important to track and measure the success and value of all these accomplishments. The Nordson companies here are tracking performance indicators in Energy, Water, and Waste & Recycling. There is enough historical data now to see trends and savings. With the energy efficiency lighting upgrades alone at the two Nordson buildings on Loker Ave West in Carlsbad, they have reduced their 2008 vs. 2009 Kilowatt hour per day usage by over 10 percent!

The structure of the green team is very organized. It is coordinated by the Director of Human Resources, and there is a good array of green team participants from various levels and departments. With about 15 active members they have focused so far on Energy, Water, Waste & Recycling.

There are some staff champions that have stepped up to the task of educating others about the recycling program and how it works. But with lower than desired participation levels, there is room for improvement. Key strategies are being developed in order to enhance participation in the recycling program and build awareness.

Engagement is a very important factor in the success of sustainability programs. And sometimes it is elusive. In order to improve participation in the recycling program there are plans developing for contests, better visual cues, champions, and custodial support. On Earth Day all employees received a branded reusable company cup as an engaging reminder to reduce waste. A well-structured Green Committee Newsletter to all staff offers regular updates on the companies’ initiatives, as well as employee suggestions and feedback.

Eco-Stream is working with these Nordson companies on recognition with applications for the Energy Star Challenge and the WRAP (Waste Reduction Awards Program). Besides fine-tuning a paper use reduction strategy, an energy management system for PCs, and an office supply reuse cart, next steps for the companys are to begin to look up-stream, to their suppliers, for more sustainable products and services. It all starts with a simple conversation about sustainability.

The performance began with Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, by Anton Dvorak, a 19th Century Bohemian composer. This cello concerto was composed toward the end of a 2 1/2 year period while Dvorak was teaching and performing in New York City. He added unconventional instrumentation to the composition by including more brass, woodwind, and percussion than was custom at the time. It was amazing to hear the LA Philharmonic in this performance with 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 3 french horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, a tuba, timpani, triangle, strings, and solo cello. Alisa Weilerstein, as one with her cello and with her renowned passion, added a complete additional layer of haunting and exhilarating musical sound and emotion to the piece.

After intermission we were delighted to a four movement piece by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky entitled Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, “Pathetique”. Again – amazing. More brass and percussion were included in the instrumentation of this piece. According to Tchaikovsky, “Music is not illusion, but revelation rather. Its triumphant power resides in the fact that it reveals to us beauties we find nowhere else.” In his compositions, Tchaikovsky uses music to tell a story, to take us on a journey. There is much debate as to the journey this final masterpiece in his repertoire lays bare. “Pathetique”, or impassioned suffering, is something that is a part of the human journey for whatever reason brings it into each of our lives. Dudamel, conducting the talented musicians of the LA Philharmonic, demonstrated with orchestral intensity the power of these emotions. He brought us to the depths of our despair and filled us with joy; but in the end, he left us in our own reality to bear in silence.

Bravo, Gustavo! Bravo!

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The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has been tasked with an awesome responsibility; they are to provide a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for San Diego County.

According to one of the documents they gave to me at a community workshop on April 28th in Carlsbad, “Smart Growth” for our region means this:

Smart growth is a compact, efficient, and environmentally-sensitive urban development pattern. It focuses future growth and infill development close to jobs, services, and public facilities to maximize the use of existing infrastructure, preserve open space, and natural resources.

Smart growth is characterized by more compact, higher density development in key areas throughout the region that is walkable, near public transit, and promotes good community design. Smart growth results in more housing and transportation choices for those who live and work in smart growth areas.

I really already believe in “smart growth”. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of the US Green Building Council’s LEED ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development) certification and accreditation which was released this week. In my work I have shared with many the concept of New Urbanism. I myself wish I lived in a smaller, more compact home. And although we are able to bike and walk from our neighborhood, I wish there were more transportation options for our daily activities and centers. I see the relevance and long-term value of lifestyle choices like these. And herein lies my concern with the RTP for North County…

SANDAG is offering three options:

1. Transit Propensity

• Expanding Transit in the Most Urbanized Area

2. Commuter Point-to-Point

• Emphasizing Quick Access to Work

3. Many Centers

• Connects Smart Growth Areas and Activity Centers

Many Centers is the epitome of Smart Growth; that is what we all want. We want to be able to have connections to where we work, do business, and play. We all want this. We don’t just want a quick way to get to work. But it all has to be safe, well-placed, timely, and cost-effective.

Unfortunately, the way that our suburban communities have been designed in the past, we oftentimes have neither quick ways to work nor connections to any centers where we do business or play. This is a very complicated issue. And unfortunately, no matter how many maps or options SANDAG draws up, if the cities, who have control over land use, do not make strategic smart growth changes in zoning and planning, we will not be able to accomplish any comprehensive smart growth regional transportation plan except in small disparate pockets that are classified as our “smart growth” areas.

I look at the three maps presented at the workshop and I see nothing that will affect my north county transportation options. I and my family will still spend hours in personal vehicles every day; I see no plan to make communities in North San Diego County have more access to daily activities. And that is what a sustainable community, a smart growth area, is all about. Having access to jobs 30 – 50 miles away does not really address the issue of successful sustainable communities, but rather gives us a continued ability to live and work and play at long distances, and in a way that is very disconnected from our individual communities.

Access to Many Centers is what we want for the region, for the entire region. We want a variety of options for housing, we want to protect open space and sensitive resource areas, and we want to feel connected to and a part of a community, and a region at large.

See also: SANDAG’s Smart Growth Concept Map