Healthcare is an energy-intensive industry, making hospitals and other healthcare organizations among the largest energy consumers in the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program. The increasing concern over environmental issues and energy costs has intensified the need for hospitals to become more involved with protecting the environment. Montefiore Health System has long been recognized for its energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods and will share best practices with community members, patients and associates as it celebrates Earth Week from April 20 to 24.

Montefiore has been a leader in sustainability for nearly two decades, and continues to promote and generate sustainability changes. Montefiore was the first hospital in New York City to install a cogeneration system and the first integrated healthcare delivery network to launch a system wide sharps recycling program.

More recent Montefiore initiatives include the installation of a food biodigester at Montefiore New Rochelle that has prevented 40 tons of organic food waste from being landfilled in just four months; adoption of a medical device reprocessing program that prevented eight tons of single use medical devices from entering a landfill in 2014; and a new transportation service that helps create carpool options for associates. Montefiore, which in 2009 enrolled in former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiative to reduce its carbon footprint 30 percent by 2018, recently announced that it has increased its commitment with a plan to reach a 50 percent reduction by 2025.

Earth Week events at Montefiore’s campuses in the Bronx and Westchester County are designed to raise awareness about ways everyone can be more environmentally responsible. Associates will learn more about the sustainable practices used at Montefiore’s various locations, while community members hear from experts on how to make their own homes greener. The days and locations of the events are:

• Monday, April 20 – Indoor Earth Week event at Montefiore Mount Vernon.
• Tuesday, April 21 – Earth Week event to be held at Montefiore New Rochelle.
• Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day Expo at Montefiore’s Moses Campus’ East Garden.
• Thursday, April 23 – Montefiore’s Weiler Campus to host Earth Week event.
• Friday, April 24 – Last day of Earth Week held in the atrium at the Wakefield Campus.

Montefiore’s Annual Earth Day Expo on April 22 will feature speakers from Cree, GE, Philips, American Standard, Grainger and members of the Engineering Department who will share information about products and practices that are environmentally safe and cost effective. For more information about event locations or Montefiore’s energy and sustainability programs, visit www.montefiore.org.