Submitted by Mauricio Acosta, director, Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Every June, we report our greenhouse gas emissions and carbon-reducing actions to BC’s Climate Action Secretariat for the Carbon Neutral Action Report (CNAR). The big news in this year’s Carbon Neutral Action Report (CNAR) is that Vancouver Coastal Health was carbon neutral in 2011, for the second year in a row. We achieved this by taking actions to reduce our green house gas emissions and by purchasing carbon offsets. Here’s just a small sampling of some actions we took to reduce our carbon footprint:
2011 Carbon-Reducing Highlights from Vancouver Coastal:
- We completed 23 energy-retrofit projects in 13 buildings which reduced our energy consumption by 2.6 GWh and reduced our greenhouse gas by 964 tC02e.
- We are pleased to commit to new green standards: it’s now mandatory to incorporate an Integrated Design Process for all new construction and major renovation projects at VCH.
- Implemented recycling renewal program at 4 acute care sites and 4 residential care sites – kudos to all who are making the recycling program work!
- Promoted sustainable transportation and ran a commuting campaign through the Cut the Carbon Community and our Green+Leaders program which encouraged staff to walk, cycle or take public transit to work.
- Over 2,300 Lower Mainland staff, including 975 Vancouver Coastal Health employees, signed up for our new Cut the Carbon Community website and campaign, launched in 2011
All this work was done by GreenCare: an initiative to promote an environmentally conscious culture, orchestrated by the Energy & Environmental Sustainability team at our consolidated Lower Mainland Facilities Management department. GreenCare serves Fraser Health, VCH, PHSA, and PHC.
How you can help
Register at GreenCare’s c3community.ca to learn more, read the full CNAR report + many other stories about what we are doing, join the conversation with your colleagues at all four Lower Mainland health organizations.
Become a Green+Leader at your site. Email Meredith Hunt for more details.