UPMC has made great strides over the last several years in their systemwide efforts to conserve water and energy, reduce infectious and solid waste, and decrease the use of toxic chemicals.

Major Awards

• 2006 & 2007: "Hospitals for a Healthy Environment" Partner Recognition & Making Medicine Mercury-Free Awards Hillman Cancer Center, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Presbyterian, & Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
• 2007: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (Children’s Hospital) & Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC are two of only ten organizations that received EPA’s Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Award for outstanding commitment to protecting children from environmental health risks.
• 2008: Children’s Hospital is receiving a Partner Recognition Award.

Progress

• UPMC is purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) that represent about 10% of electricity.
• Mercury has essentially been eliminated. Alcohol & xylene lab solvents are being recycled.
• Some paper, beverage, containers, batteries, and cardboard are being recycled.
• Saving 578,120 gallons of water & 4,505 gallons of disinfectant annually using microfiber mops to clean patient rooms at UPMC Presbyterian & Shadyside; Children’s Hospital is currently implementing their use.
• Children’s Hospital has conducted a pilot study with the goal of keeping nearly 22,000 sharps containers out of the landfill each year by converting to reusable sharps containers.
• Children’s Hospital signed the Health Care Without Harm Healthful Food Pledge; all UPMC hospitals are offering more healthful & local food choices & a virtual farmers’ market.
• Construction of new ‘green’ LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Children’s Hospital building (illustrated in drawing to the right).
• Children’s Community Pediatrics opened the first environmentally sustainable medical office in the region.
• Removing plastic dishware & utensils from hospital cafeterias & replacing with molded fiber & corn-based compostable products.
• Planning for major new green research facility in Shadyside & new green hospital in Monroeville.

UPMC has established a Corporate Environmental Steering Committee to advise systemwide greening teams, hired a corporate Director of Environmental Initiatives, & developed a corporate Environmental Policy Statement that includes a systemwide commitment to:

• Serve as leaders in the pursuit of environmental stewardship & health.
• Institute Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) & sustainable policies.
• Create a $5 million dollar allocation for "Green Action Loan Fund" to finance high performance design, operations, & maintenance projects that reduce UPMC's ecological footprint.

• The use of an integrated design approach as the standard for all new buildings
• Cleaning and operations of all facilities to follow LEED standards for new and existing buildings
• Adoption of a comprehensive corporate-wide recycling program (paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, and glass)
• Use of nontoxic paints, stains, finishes and adhesives for all retrofits and new construction by UPMC personnel and outside contractors
• Expanded nutrition and exercise programs that enhance the health of staff and patients
• A commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing clean energy (wind, solar)