Exceptional Experiences at Community Health Network

Construction of the Next Evolution of Community Hospital South is underway. The new facility, which includes a five story, all-private room patient tower, expanded operating suites and convenient outpatient services will create en exceptional experience for patients, families, physicians, nurses and employees. But did you know it’s also being designed with the environment in mind?

“We are incorporating as much energy efficiency as possible and doing what we can to optimize indoor air quality,” says Mitchell Breeze, director of facilities at Community Hospital South.

Following environmentally friendly standards involves registering the project with the Green Guide for Health Care and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program. A similar approach was taken with the recent expansion of the hospital’s emergency department, which received gold certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

According to Breeze, the guidelines for the Next Evolution project are difficult to achieve, particularly for a hospital building. “We’re building on the lessons learned from our last LEED project,” he says.

The list of goals for the environmental component of the project is lengthy. Among the items on the checklist:

• At least 75 percent of the equipment purchased will be EPA Energy Star or Enerlogic rated.
• At least 75 percent of the construction waste will be diverted away from landfills through recycling and reuse.
• Water consumption in the new facilities will be reduced through the use of low-flow and hands-free technology.
• Finishes and paints that are low in odorous or irritating contaminants will be selected to ensure the comfort and well-being of patients, families, employees—and those involved in the construction.
• Every effort will be made to keep sound disruptions to a minimum, throughout the construction and beyond.
• Native or adapted plants requiring little or no irrigation will be used for the outdoor landscaping.

Taking the extra steps to achieve Green Guide and Energy Star certification is a win-win for the environment and for the occupants of the new facilities. In particular, patients and visitors will benefit from the reductions in noise and air pollution, which will contribute to the healing environment.

Learn more about the Next Evolution of Community Hospital South at eCommunity.com/south.