The Valley Hospital, continuing its role as a national leader in health care innovation and sustainability, recently received accolades from Practice Greenhealth.
The Valley Hospital received the Greenhealth Emerald Award, which recognizes the organization’s ongoing commitment to improving its environmental performance and efforts to build sustainability and resilience into its operations and culture.
It’s the tenth consecutive year The Valley Hospital has been so honored – a tribute to the organization’s commitment to sustainability, CEO Dr. Robert Brenner said.
“Valley is committed to minimizing the impact of hospital operations on the environment and contributing towards a more sustainable future,” he said. “This award reflects our commitment to not only healing the community through health care, but also in protecting the planet that sustains us.”
The Valley Hospital, located in Paramus, is operated and maintained using environmentally friendly principles, with more than 30% of the hospital campus dedicated to open green space.
The hospital has two green roofs, which involve growing plants on the facility’s rooftop. Green roofs have numerous benefits, including reducing stormwater runoff, improving energy efficiency, and improving the overall look of the hospital for patients and neighbors.
The hospital also features a cogeneration plant, which produces 30-40% of its power, depending on the season. The plant feeds power to a primary switch gear, which powers the building. This produces electrical energy, as well as heat, from the plant that would have otherwise been unused. The plant allows the hospital to produce its own steam, hot water, and air conditioning, while reducing Valley’s carbon footprint.
It was more than enough to impress Practice Greenhealth Founder Gary Cohen.
“In a shifting healthcare landscape, a focus on sustainability can help build resilience while better protecting the health of patients and the community,” he said. “The Valley
Hospital demonstrates the kind of leadership, innovation, and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices.”
