THANKS to everyone who submitted to the Green Hospital Scorecard! The deadline to submit data was February 3rd. If you are interested in participating in the program but missed the deadline, please contact samantha@greenhealthcare.ca ASAP.
Scorecards will be sent out in March 2017!
The Coalition launches the HELO North Networking Hub! Based on ideas at our recent northern networking call, the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and Healthcare Energy Leaders Ontario (HELO) are creating a Network Hub for members of northern Ontario facilities to network and share energy-saving information and resources. 

As part of this initiative, we have created a password-protected Contacts page to allow members of northern facilities to more easily connect with one another. If you would like access to this page, please reply YES to this email with your name, title, facility, and email address, which will be listed on the page, and we will send you the access password. 

In addition, we are currently compiling resource documents to post on the network hub. If you have any information you think might be useful to other facilities for environmental initiatives, please include them in your reply or send them at any time to samantha@greenhealthcare.ca. Examples include, but are not limited to:
  • Product information, product reviews, or purchasing information for environmentally friendly products you have implemented at your site.
  • A case study done on your site or engineering work (could be written by a third party e.g. Honeywell).
  • Write-ups of environmental initiatives or ongoing issues and attempted solutions at your facility.

We look forward to working with you and your team to bring energy savings and climate change resiliency opportunities to the north through the networking hub!
The Art of Sustainability. Interior Health’s employees have been contributing to sustainability efforts by creatively re-purposing items at Gateby Care Centre in Vernon, BC. The residential care centre welcomes residents and visitors with a colourful mural made of over 4000 recycled bottle caps, which diverted 20 pounds of waste from landfills. Old medicine carts have been converted to palliative care carts full of comforting items, and staff have placed donated seasonal displays from the Vernon Mall within the centre to help residents with seasonal awareness. Read the full story here.
Practice Greenhealth helps employees go green. Last spring,  Practice Greenhealth launched the Employee Home Solar toolkit. The toolkit allows employees of Practice Greenhealth member hospitals and health systems to purchase discounted solar for their homes. The health system that has had the most success to date with solar installations is Gundersen Health. An extensive marketing plan, repetition of key messages on solar and health, and passionate leaders and employees has produced outstanding results.
Reuse for the Public Sector. This report from the NHS (United Kingdom) highlights the current state of reuse across the public sector. The report follows a recent survey which was carried out to assess the extent to which organisations across the UK re-used or otherwise disposed of redundant items. Special attention was paid to in-house procedures and operations. The survey includes a wide range of NHS organisations, local government authorities and Universities. Most respondents considered visible waste an embarrassment that diminishes the professionalism of their organisation, although realisation of the financial cost of disposal and the loss of potential financial realisation does not feature strongly. Read the report here.
CHES National Conference 2017 Welcomes Students. The 2017 Student Program will provide and opportunity for students to take part in some of the conference education sessions, visit the trade show and network with the healthcare engineers, facility managers, energy managers, building maintenance specialists, architects, environmentalists, and vendors. Registration Fees: $25 (before July 31st) or $30 (after July 31st); includes one year CHES Student Membership. Learn more.
Photo: Linda Varangu, Executive Director, Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, with Raymond Wang, youth innovator and plenary speaker at CHES National 2017 Conference.
Greening Health Care Special Webinar
Since its introduction in 2010, only a few Ontario hospitals have been eligible to be Class A electricity customers, and some of them are realizing big savings on their Global Adjustment charges. Now, the government has lowered the threshold to 1 MW, opening up the Class A option to many more hospitals. Every facility is different, and Greening Health Care has developed an analytical methodology to help eligible hospitals understand the criteria and possible financial outcomes for opting for Class A designation. The option for 2017-18 must be made by June 15th.

Join Greening Health Care from 12:30 – 1:30 PM EST on Wednesday February 15th to learn about Class A designation, how it might benefit your hospital, and the site-specific analysis available to help you make the best decision. 

Canadian Nursing Students’ Association Launches New Environmental Stewardship Award

The Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Environmental Stewardship Award worth $750. This is an opportunity for a Canadian nursing student to be honoured for the advocacy work they have done in promoting environmental stewardship practice as related to their education, practice and future profession.

Interested applicants must submit an essay (maximum 500 words) on why they are deserving of this award, an explanation of their work, and attach a maximum of two supporting documents (fliers, leaflets, etc), that may aid the committee in their decision. All applicants and support materials should be sent to: awards@cnsa.ca no later than March 31, 2017. More info at http://cnsa.ca/awards/.
2017 ENERGY STAR Canada Awards are now open!

 NRCan salutes all Participants for their commitment to reducing energy consumption and protecting the environment. The ENERGY STAR Canada Awards recognizes Participants for promoting the energy-efficient products and practices in Canada. All Participants are invited to submit an application now!

See winners from last year: 2016 Winners.

To find out more, visit NRCan's Awards page. The deadline for submissions is March 3, 2017.
  Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award - Deadline Extended!
Sponsored by Honeywell, this award recognizes a progressive healthcare organization that has implemented programs that demonstrate environmental responsibility through the reduction of energy usage, the preservation of natural resources and effective waste diversion solutions. Deadline to apply has been extended to February 27, 2017.  Access the 2017 Nomination Form. More info  here.
Registration for CleanMed 2017 Now Open
Anchoring Healthy Communities
May 16-18, 2017
Minneapolis, Minnesota

This year, CleanMed will introduce “Mind Meetings” through the CleanMed mobile app. Attendees can download the app and connect in 10-minute rapid-fire meetings on the expo floor with other attendees, speakers, coaches, staff, and others they may want to chat with. More information will be at www.cleanmed.org closer to the conference date.

Make sure to secure your spot ASAP as there is a very limited housing block at the Hilton Minneapolis Downtown. To secure the special rate of $201 per night, visit  http://cleanmed.org/hotel/.
  Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Climate Change Survey   
  How can APEGBC support you in a changing climate?

Climate change affects us all. Some of us are starting to adapt to the challenges and opportunities of climate change; for others the need for action is yet to come. Irrespective of your position, APEGBC wants your opinions and experience on this important subject to influence how they will support you to consider climate change in your professional practice.   Res ponses are anonymous. The survey will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete.  
  National Health Leadership Conference
Value-based healthcare: Embracing a patient and family-centered approach

June 12-13, 2017 
Vancouver, British Columbia
This conference is the largest national gathering of health system decision-makers in Canada including trustees, chief executive officers, directors, managers, department heads and other health leaders representing various sectors and professions in health regions, authorities and alliances, hospitals, long-term care organizations, public health agencies, community care, mental health and social services. As well, the conference draws participants from government, education and research organizations, professional associations, consulting firms and industry.

Do you have a photo or story to share in the Green Digest? Send to samantha@greenhealthcare.ca.
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