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
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. Since 2015, we have also won the Emerald Award, which honors outstanding achievement, at Fanny Allen.
Over the years, 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.
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
Engage and educate our staff and community while implementing policies that promote sustainable practices.
Green Buildings
Apply environmentally sustainable and health-focused planning, design, and construction principles for building and renovation projects.
Healthier Food
Purchase and offer locally and/or sustainably produced food.
Waste
Reduce toxicity and volume, conserve natural resources, and lower costs through upstream purchasing practices, recycling, and reuse.
Chemicals
Reduce and limit the use of products that contain chemicals of concern.
Greening the OR
Reduce environmental impact and cost and improve health and safety by focusing sustainability efforts in the operating room.
Leaner Energy
Reduce overall Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and explore alternative energy sources, where feasible.
Water
Reduce water consumption.
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.