Top 10 greenest hospitals in the world

Nine U.S. hospitals are among the 10 most environmentally conscious in the world, according to Healthcare-Administration-Degree.net.

"These modern, state-of-the-art facilities feature a whole host of eco-friendly initiatives, from paperless record keeping to energy-conserving boilers, green roofs and on-site power plants," the article states. "Healthcare administration graduates working at these green-minded facilities can rest a little easier, safe in the knowledge that their employers are doing more than their share to help save the planet."

Experts chose hospitals based on a combination of criteria such as recycling efforts, certification from environmental bodies and green construction, according to a statement from the site. The top 10 hospitals in the article's list of 30 are:

  1. Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, a paperless environment that features quality public transportation and vehicle-sharing benefits and uses recycled water and materials.

  2. Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin, which uses environmentally-friendly interior paints, a sunlight-reflective white roof and a rainwater collection irrigation system.

  3. Providence Newberg (Ore.) Medical Center, which meets all of its power requirements with energy from renewable sources and uses a ventilation system that continually brings in air from outside rather than recycling indoor air.

  4. Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greenberg, Kan., which features lighting controls, low-flush toilets and a "heat recovery system."

  5. Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center, part of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, which has occupant-sensitive lighting, computer-controlled heating and ventilation and a motorized system that minimizes sun glare.

  6. Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash., which uses energy-efficient boilers and room design that maximizes natural light.

  7. West Kendall Baptist Hospital in Miami, which is built to endure a category-five hurricane, capable of remaining self-sufficient for at least five days.

  8. The Katz Women's Hospital Post Partum Unit at North Shore University in Manhasset, N.Y., which features natural light-based heating and cooling and environmentally friendly paints.

  9. Muskogee (Okla.) Community Hospital, which uses a closed-loop geothermal system.

  10. St. Mary's Hospital in Sechelt, British Columbia, which features carbon-neutral heating and cooling systems.

Hospitals are retrofitting their facilities in accordance with Department of Energy guidelines to save on operating costs, FierceHealthcare previously reported. Hospitals can save more than 30 percent of their annual energy costs by implementing the guidelines listed in the retrofit, according to the guide, as well as improve equipment longevity, decrease patient recovery times and create a more attractive brand.

To learn more:
- here's the report
- read the statement