The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Cleveland Clinic with a 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.
Cleveland Clinic, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2008, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency and its many accomplishments at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 26.
“Cleveland Clinic is committed to increasing energy efficiency through our partnership with ENERGY STAR,” said Bill Peacock, Cleveland Clinic’s Chief of Operations. “Efficient management of our natural resources controls costs and helps us address and reduce environmental public health pressures. These are key concepts healthcare providers must embrace as we enter a period of rapid change in our industry.”
In December of 2011, Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Toby Cosgrove, M.D., accepted President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge, committing to reduce energy intensity by 20 percent by 2020, while transparently showcasing the solutions used to reach the goal. This public promise launched Cleveland Clinic’s long-term commitment to energy conservation. The hospital system continues to improve the energy efficiency of its existing buildings by optimizing building systems, making targeted reinvestments, managing the energy consumed by electronic devices and engaging caregivers to change energy-related behaviors.
Cleveland Clinic also continues to build new high-performance green buildings and follows the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program, the nationally accepted green building standard, for all new major construction projects. To date, the Cleveland Clinic health system features 13 LEED-certified buildings and projects.
“We view our energy program as a direct contributor to a healthier community. We can improve air quality and support a healthier community by reducing our reliance on high-polluting sources of energy,” said Chris Parkinson, Interim Director for the Office for a Healthy Environment. “As a leader in healthcare, we consider it our responsibility to lead in this area.”
Over the last 20 years, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA.
“EPA is recognizing Cleveland Clinic for earning EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award the 2013 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award,” said Bob Perciasepe, Acting Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Cleveland Clinic leads the field with their commitment to energy efficiency and demonstrates how all Americans can save energy, save money and create a healthier environment.”
The 2013 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors. Award winners are selected from the nearly 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
