At the University of Vermont Medical Center we strive to ensure our day-to-day operations are founded in sound environmental practices in all aspects of care delivery. In doing so, we have established ourselves as a national leader in sustainable healthcare.

View our year end report from the Sustainability Council (PDF)

National Leader in Sustainable Healthcare



Our sustained efforts to reduce energy consumption, waste stream and carbon footprint, and to increase the use of healthy, locally produced foods have been acknowledged with awards from leading national organizations.

Employees have embraced this mission and are leading grassroots sustainability efforts to gather ideas, create action plans and raise awareness throughout the organization. The UVM Medical Center participates in dozens of environmental initiatives—from seeking out environmentally friendly products for maintaining and cleaning our facilities to serving sustainable foods and composting.

Simply put, we believe practicing green health care is the right thing to do for our patients, the environment and the communities we serve.

Our Green Initiatives

From grassroots recycling initiatives to executive-led strategic planning, we take a holistic approach to greening our operations. Our Sustainability Council develops sustainability goals and projects, with support from our hundreds of green-minded employees.

Leadership

Leadership

Engage and educate our staff and community while implementing policies that promote sustainable practices.

Green Buildings

Green Buildings

Apply environmentally sustainable and health-focused planning, design, and construction principles for building and renovation projects.

Healthier Foods

Healthier Food

Purchase and offer locally and/or sustainably produced food.

Waste

Waste

Reduce toxicity and volume, conserve natural resources, and lower costs through upstream purchasing practices, recycling, and reuse.

Chemicals

Chemicals

Reduce and limit the use of products that contain chemicals of concern.

Greening the OR

Greening the OR

Reduce environmental impact and cost and improve health and safety by focusing sustainability efforts in the operating room.

Leaner Energy

Leaner Energy

Reduce overall Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and explore alternative energy sources, where feasible.

Water

Water

Reduce water consumption.

Climate

Climate

Work towards climate change mitigation solutions.

8.67 Tons

Of blue wrap recycled in 2017

1.5 Million

miles not driven by employees who used alternative transportation in 2017

National Leader in Sustainable Healthcare



Since 2009, we have earned top green honors from Practice Greenhealth, a leading national healthcare sustainability nonprofit with over a thousand members. We are a recurring recipient of their prestigious Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, which recognizes the top green hospitals in the in the country. We also won the Emerald Award, an award for outstanding achievement, at Fanny Allen.

We have also earned Practice Greenhealth’s Circles of Excellence Awards, which recognize the top ten hospitals in a sustainability category. These distinctions include: Leadership, Less Waste, Chemicals, Greening the OR, Healthy Food, and Green Buildings.

Practice Greenhealth Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award