tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post5238699404332871103..comments2024-03-18T06:27:51.599-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: It's not easy being greenPaul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-62917579988329465612007-04-30T11:07:00.000-04:002007-04-30T11:07:00.000-04:00Hi Paul, I was hoping you could provide me with in...Hi Paul, I was hoping you could provide me with information on BIDMC's recycling policy. I am an employee of BIDMC and our offices recently moved outside of the Longwood area. We currently do not have any recycling option for disposal of glass bottles and aluminum, and I was told there is no plan for this in the future. I know HMS has a strong recycling program but I was wondering if this applied to BIDMC as well. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-40120964457714203692007-04-06T07:50:00.000-04:002007-04-06T07:50:00.000-04:00I've been interested in developing a program of re...I've been interested in developing a program of resource sharing both within and outside the institution. Every department has items that are either outdated, antiquated or no longer needed and could use a new home. By developing a "craigslist" or "BIDslist", on the hospital portal, individual departments could post unneeded supplies and equipment while needy departments could arrange to retrieve or request items . Outdated and antiquated equipment could be offered to individuals involved with third world charities rather than cart the "trash" away to a landfill. We all have items piled in our store rooms,sometimes forgetten, taking up valuable space that could be put to better use. If each department had a designated contact person and the portal link was easy to access it could prove to be a bulletin board of resource sharing involving very little cost by the institution.Moniquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11328086272680042873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-33306554920363985962007-04-04T13:59:00.000-04:002007-04-04T13:59:00.000-04:00Not that they could be measured.Not that they could be measured.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-11249320230326135602007-04-04T12:06:00.000-04:002007-04-04T12:06:00.000-04:00Do you see additional improvements in environmenta...Do you see additional improvements in environmental efficiency that result directly from the process improvement initiatives about which you wrote earlier?<BR/><BR/>-AdamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-62997907524109886192007-04-03T14:42:00.000-04:002007-04-03T14:42:00.000-04:00Aha.MATEP is a big sucker.Throw some biodiesel in ...<A HREF="http://www.matep.com/" REL="nofollow">Aha.</A><BR/><BR/>MATEP is a big sucker.<BR/><BR/>Throw some biodiesel in there and you're about as low carbon as you are going to get.Brian Crounsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00433471861832551929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-71230086686148840162007-04-03T13:29:00.000-04:002007-04-03T13:29:00.000-04:00We do that. We are part of a district system that...We do that. We are part of a district system that produces electricity, steam, and chilled water in one facility. It serves several hospitals and Harvard Medical School. It's nickname is MATEP -- medical area total energy plant -- and it is owned by NStar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-82036346819236018042007-04-03T12:26:00.000-04:002007-04-03T12:26:00.000-04:00To your knowledge, does your hospital or any other...To your knowledge, does your hospital or any others you know of utilize combined heat and power (<A HREF="http://www.utcpower.com/fs/com/bin/fs_com_Page/0,11491,0125,00.html" REL="nofollow">here's an example</A>)? With a hospital's substantial need for heat, cold, and electricity, generating all 3 at once on-site (at very high overall efficiency) seems like it should be a very cost-effective approach.Brian Crounsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00433471861832551929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-73280775365403888842007-04-03T11:25:00.000-04:002007-04-03T11:25:00.000-04:00Kudos! But this is just a piece of what we are doi...Kudos! But this is just a piece of what we are doing. On April 24 BIDMC is hosting our 9th annual "Healthy Work/Healthy Home" event. We start the day with our Environmental Action Awards breakfast featuring speaker WBUR's Living on Earth producer Bruce Gellerman. We will be celebrating the top 3 teams at BIDMC who developed and implemented a sucessful, creative, sustainable,high impact, cost saving environmental change within the hospital. <BR/>From 11:30-1:10 pm we hold an environmental awareness fair for employees where we give out lots of info on ways to improve habits to promote "environmental health". Employees who come by will receive a free compact flourescent energy saving light bulb. We will also have a mercury thermometer exchange, lithium and cadmium battery collection for recycling, and collect used cell phones for a local domestic violence program.<BR/> <BR/>Later in the afternoon, we are hosting a free showing of "An Inconvenient Truth" for BIDMC employees.<BR/><BR/>I have been so impressed with the "green lens" that so many of our employees are using in their daily work. Even when things are tried and are not sucessful...like the paper towels..we keep trying!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-33693414123354447262007-04-03T10:55:00.000-04:002007-04-03T10:55:00.000-04:00bc,I am generally in favor of internalizing the co...bc,<BR/><BR/>I am generally in favor of internalizing the costs of environmental externalities along the lines you have suggested. There is always a difficulty in estimating those costs, of course, but the sentiment is right on target. We could start in the US with a higher gasoline tax, recirculating those new revenues into energy efficient investments or R&D.<BR/><BR/>Dear anon 11:00pm,<BR/><BR/>There actually is a lot of such stuff going on. Get in touch with Jane Matlaw for details. In fact, Jane may want to comment directly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-79031062498583046522007-04-03T10:44:00.000-04:002007-04-03T10:44:00.000-04:00Paul,Since you have considerable expertise in the ...Paul,<BR/><BR/>Since you have considerable expertise in the environmental area, I am curious about how you view the concept of carbon taxes to encourage lower energy consumption and greater energy efficiency.<BR/><BR/>In theory, it seems that carbon taxes could make the total cost of energy more closely reflect the full social cost of producing it as well as, perhaps, reduce the need for other taxes (like higher income taxes) that may cause more economic harm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-19029302212510194292007-04-02T23:00:00.000-04:002007-04-02T23:00:00.000-04:00Hi Paul,I'm glad you wrote about this. I've been ...Hi Paul,<BR/>I'm glad you wrote about this. I've been thinking for awhile that we could save a lot of energy around the medical center without compromising patient care or comfort by some simple measures---for example, programmable thermostats that would lower the heat at night and on weekends in non-inpatient areas (e.g. the entire Shapiro building!) The motion-activated lights that are popping up everywhere are a great idea, too. Maybe we could have another employee "contest" for ideas, akin to the "Prepare 21" program Dr. Rabkin launched (ahem) a couple of decades ago? (There is a huge potential savings in our waste management stream as well---everything from plastic packaging recycling to consciousness-raising about not putting trash in the sharps containers, etc.) The possibilities are endless. . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-83443569000518217722007-04-02T21:39:00.000-04:002007-04-02T21:39:00.000-04:00Thanks, Toni!Thanks, Toni!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-37163168880055222702007-04-02T21:28:00.000-04:002007-04-02T21:28:00.000-04:00Another great post, Mr. Levy, showing good environ...Another great post, Mr. Levy, showing good environmental decisions can also mean good business. I'm lovin' these blogs! TBToni Brayer, MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15258759363309666629noreply@blogger.com