Go Green
April 6, 2010
VA Hudson Valley Health Care System Steps Up Efforts to Go Green"
Castle Point, NY and Montrose, NY--- The two campuses and seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics of the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System (VA HVHCS) have stepped up efforts to become more environmentally friendly in their hospital and business practices. Among the green initiatives underway are plans to utilize solar energy to power electric vehicles and a wind turbine to power lighting fixtures, install light efficient fixtures, and upgrade the two campuses boilers to more efficient units. These efforts will allow us to provide valuable services to our veterans while reducing or using cleaner energy sources resulting in lesser air emission and the betterment of our environment. In addition, the recycling program has been improved, including the management in clinical labs of certain waste solvents, and the purchasing of environmentally friendly products has been increased.
These initiatives are part of a coordinated effort to help make the Veterans Integrated Service Network 3 (VISN 3) more sustainable through the work of the Green Team, which includes representatives from all nine VISN 3 campuses. As a large network of medical centers serving over 2.5 million Veterans a year, VISN 3 recognizes the impact it can have on the environment, especially the surrounding neighborhoods, by implementing more green practices. The Green Team aims to promote sustainable practices by employees both at work, and at home, and integrate green business and medical practices into the VA.
When asked what is driving the VA HVHCS to go the “Green” way, Mr. Marwan Fanek, the Green Environmental Management Systems Manager said, “The VA HVHCS Executive Management and employees recognize the importance of providing vital services to our veterans while preserving the environment for future generations. As such, I feel that we are exceeding many private companies in energy and water conservation effort as well as recycling and green purchasing. The plan to install solar panels at the Montrose site to power electric vehicles is a clear example of our commitment to the VA’s Go Green program at the Hudson Valley Health Care System. Most recently our Director Gerald Culliton has proclaimed the month of April as the Earth Awareness Month commencing our Green program and celebrating Earth Day on April 21, 2010 at Montrose Campus and April 22, 2010 at the Castel Point Campus. We welcome public participation.”
Michael Sabo, VISN 3 Director said, “In keeping with our commitment to provide the best health care possible to our veterans, we are establishing green practices in all of the VISN 3 facilities to provide a healthy environment for our patients, staff and the surrounding communities. We will focus on operational efficiencies to improve our environment and to reduce our costs. As stewards of the taxpayer’s money, everyone benefits from VISN 3 going green, especially our future generation.”
VISN 3 consists of eight VA Medical Centers (VAMCs): the Bronx and Northport, Long Island VAMCs; VA NY Harbor Healthcare System which includes the Brooklyn and New York VAMCs and the St. Albans Community Living Center; VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, comprised of Castle Point and Montrose VAMCs; and VA New Jersey Healthcare System comprised of East Orange and Lyons VAMCs. There are 32 VA community based outpatient clinics in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.
