Stony Brook University Hospital Goes Green

NEW YORK CITY-Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, NY signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce its environmental impact “through a comprehensive agreement that outlines goals and strategies for energy and water conservation, solid waste management, green design and the use of environmentally-friendly products. The EPA tells GlobesSt.com that Stony Brook is the first hospital–not only in the New York area, but the entire nation–to have worked on such a “comprehensive agreement.”

The “EPA hopes that the agreement with Stony Brook University Hospital will serve as a model for other hospitals that are looking to reduce their environmental impacts. We would be eager to work with other hospitals that are interested in making their facilities and practices more sustainable,” says EPA spokesperson John Senn.

The hospital will track the results of the efforts and submit reports to the EPA every six months. In a statement, EPA acting deputy regional administrator Barbara Finazzo says “this comprehensive agreement not only addresses broad issues like energy and water usage, but also those unique to the health care sector, like using environmentally-friendly medical supplies.”