Apr 7 2008
Recognizing its leadership in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is the only hospital to be honored more than once by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with an ENERGY STAR Award.
NewYork-Presbyterian is also the only hospital in New York state to receive a 2008 award for "Sustained Excellence," the highest ENERGY STAR honor. The Hospital's fourth consecutive ENERGY STAR award will be bestowed at an April 1 ceremony in Washington, D.C.
"I am very proud that NewYork-Presbyterian has been recognized for our continuing commitment to improving energy efficiency -- an investment in the future that benefits our patients, the environment and our bottom line," says Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "Once again, I commend the leadership of our energy team, who are exceptionally dedicated to achieving our energy goals."
Improvement projects undertaken at NewYork-Presbyterian over the past year have reduced energy use by 7 percent, saving more than $2 million -- the equivalent of generating $43 million in new revenues. Significant energy investments include a co-generation plant, to be completed in October, that will save an estimated $5 million annually. In addition, two new buildings are being constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards: the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and the First Avenue development at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
And, as a participant in the ENERGY STAR "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, NewYork-Presbyterian partnered with GE Supply to give away hundreds of free energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to employees who took a pledge to replace at least one light in their home.
Total energy reductions achieved by NewYork-Presbyterian since joining the ENERGY STAR program in 2003 are nearly 9,000 tons of CO2.
Previously, NewYork-Presbyterian won "Partner of Year" awards for Leadership in Energy Management (2005 and 2006) and a "Sustained Excellence" award (2007). The Hospital has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 2003.
Just over 74 businesses and organizations received awards this year, selected from a pool of more than 12,000 businesses and organizations participating in the ENERGY STAR partner program.