Green Initiatives
Iowa Health System's focus on the community extends beyond patient care.
The organization embraces the long-term sustainability of our environment and created the Green Environmental Action Team (GrEAT) to guide the system in developing more Earth friendly practices.
Efforts have focused on educating employees and encouraging their involvement in sustainability initiatives. Iowa Health System has also launched several initiatives to eliminate waste, reduce pollution and lower costs, including:
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Plastic, cardboard and paper recycling - Iowa Health System recycles more than 34,000 pounds of plastic, cardboard and paper each month.
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Energy efficiency - A variety of energy conservation strategies, including structural enhancements, energy efficient lighting and an award-winning centralized laundry processing facility, help Iowa Health System reduce its environmental impact.
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Food waste reduction - Iowa Health System has implemented a program to control waste at the point of food preparation and guides facilities to work with food waste in a sustainable manner. Efforts led to a decrease in food waste of more than 160 tons in 2010.
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Medical supplies and instruments remanufacturing - Iowa Health System works with external vendors to remanufacture and recycle medical items, diverting over 41,000 pounds of waste from landfills each year. Iowa Health System has saved more than $1.9 million through its remanufacturing partnerships.
- Employee initiatives - Individuals and departments across the system have developed plans to raise awareness about environmental issues and implemented numerous grassroots solutions.
Enjoy our GrEAT Success Stories
