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Going Green
April 22 is Earth Day! What’s YOUR CSSD Doing to Celebrate?
It’s been 40 years since Earth Day first made its way onto the calendar and, sadly, our planet is in greater peril than ever. The good news is it’s not too late to make a profound and lasting impact.
Although Earth Day is just around the corner, there’s still time to commit to some simple, yet meaningful changes. Just one small step, such as turning off lights when areas of the department (such as storage rooms and restrooms) aren’t in use, or curbing excessive product use through ongoing staff education (or by asking vendors for dilution control systems), will positively impact the environment and, perhaps, set the foundation for future earth-friendly changes.
Four Philadelphia-area healthcare facilities—Abington Memorial Hospital, Christiana Care Health System, Holy Redeemer Medical Center, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital –have focused their efforts around a reduction in bottled water consumption, and community education. The initiative was coordinated by Philadelphia-based Women’s Health & Environment Network (WHEN), a non-profit organization that works to reduce hospitals’ environmental impact.
Christiana is serving water in pitchers at meetings and encouraging doctors, nurses, other staff and visitors to use ice and water machines in the cafeteria. Abington is providing “sips” of information on the impacts of bottled water on both health and the environment. Holy Redeemer is educating all visitors and highlighting the Sisters’ building of viable water wells in Tanzania. Jefferson is giving a 10% meal discount to those who have a reusable water bottle on their tray during “Water Wednesdays.” By reducing the number of bottled waters sold, an effort is made to reduce plastic waste and support communities locally and globally.
WHEN is also encouraging other facilities to take the challenge by offering non-bottled water. To read about bottled water’s impact on health and the environment, visit the organization’s ‘Programs’ page at www.WHEN.org (select ‘Food & Sustainability,’ then choose ‘Healthier Foods for Healthier Communities’).
There are currently more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day 2010. Why not join them?
Editor’s note: If your facility is planning an Earth Day initiative—or is committed to year-round environmental efforts, IAHCSMM wants to hear from you! Your facility (or department) could be highlighted in an upcoming issue of Central Source. Email the editor at Julie@IAHCSMM.org.
