HARTFORD, Conn., April 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring for communities extends
beyond life-changing work in operating rooms and physician offices.
Hartford HealthCare leadership today highlighted its corporate
responsibility to environmental, social and economic sustainability
in announcing its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint 50% by
2030, and to realize carbon neutrality by 2050.
"Every day, we use our talents to care for people who rely on
us. Because we are an essential part of the fabric for our state
and our communities, we also invest in the wellbeing of our cities
and towns. Now, just before Earth Day, Hartford HealthCare is proud
to pledge its commitment to the sustainability of our larger home,
the planet," says President and Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey A. Flaks.
This pledge solidifies work that earned the system federal
recognition from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
in December 2023 for "public
commitments to decarbonizing its operations and improving
resilience in the face of climate change." In doing so, Hartford
HealthCare joins just 15% of hospitals in the country that
responded to HHS's Health Sector Climate Pledge, notes Thomas Vaccarelli, Hartford HealthCare's vice
president of facilities.
All of Hartford HealthCare's seven hospitals, as well its
post-acute care facilities and assisted living homes, are
participating in the environmental commitment.
The pledge broadly addresses reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions that cause climate change. Examples of projects Hartford
HealthCare teams will tackle include:
- Monitoring operation and maintenance of heating, ventilation
and air conditioning equipment, transitioning to clean, renewable
energy when feasible.
- Building new construction to federal LEED energy efficiency
requirements, submitting for certification when feasible.
- Exploring opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle, and
adopting waste to energy strategies when feasible.
- Evaluating rooftop space for green roofs, cool roofs and solar
panels.
- Identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary medication
waste.
- Setting thermostats at efficient temperature settings by
season.
Carbon neutrality describes the balance between the amount
of carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from
the atmosphere. This can reduce the impact of climate change and
global warming, which are caused by a build-up of greenhouse gas
emissions, including carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere.
"The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection (DEEP) applauds Hartford HealthCare for the initiative
it is taking to reduce its carbon footprint 50% by 2030 and realize
carbon neutrality by 2050," DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. "We all have an important role
to play in fighting the climate crisis, and it is encouraging to
see increasing numbers of private and public sector entities being
mindful of their carbon footprint, and setting intentions to reduce
their emissions. It is especially important when our healthcare
sector partners do so, as today's announcement from Hartford
HealthCare is an important recognition of the nexus between
environmental health and public health."
The Hartford HealthCare Energy Management Program, Vaccarelli
says, will establish best-in-class programs driving utilities for
maximum efficiency. This will reduce operational costs, improve the
environment and assure continuity of critical community public
safety services.
"Being good stewards of the environment is nothing new to
Hartford HealthCare," Flaks says, noting the health system has
already shifted to reusable devices and linens over disposable,
operates a large and productive rooftop garden, and has begun a
program to track and reduce food waste, among other efforts. "The
Health Sector Climate Pledge formalizes our commitment to invest in
a better future for our people and our planet."
About Hartford HealthCare
With 41,000 colleagues, Hartford HealthCare's unified culture
enhances access, affordability, equity and excellence. Its
care-delivery system — with more than 500 locations serving 185
towns and cities — includes two tertiary-level teaching hospitals,
an acute-care community teaching hospital, an acute-care hospital
and trauma center, three community hospitals, a behavioral health
network, a multispecialty physician group, a clinical care
organization, a regional home care system, an array of senior care
services, a mobile neighborhood health program and a comprehensive
physical therapy and rehabilitation network. On average, Hartford
HealthCare touches more than 23,000 lives every single day. The
unique, system-wide Institute Model offers a unified high standard
of care in crucial specialties at hospital and ambulatory sites
across Connecticut offering
unparalleled expertise at the most affordable cost. The institutes
include: Ayer Neuroscience, Behavioral
Health, Cancer, Digestive Health, Heart and
Vascular, Orthopedics and Tallwood Urology &
Kidney. Visit Hartford HealthCare
at www.HartfordHealthCare.org and stay connected
through newsletters and social media.
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SOURCE Hartford HealthCare