Stony Brook University Hospital was among an elite group of organizations to receive the 2018 Environmental Excellence Award from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). These awards are presented annually in recognition of each organization’s innovative programs and outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic viability. A statewide review committee of 20 representatives from both public and private sectors assisted in selecting the award winners from an array of competitive applications.

Stony Brook University Hospital is leading by example and implementing a progressive and comprehensive sustainability program that reaches beyond facilities to all patient care units, departments, and areas throughout the hospital setting. The hospital now uses full digital image processing and decommissioned its last wet x-ray processor in 2017. In the same year, the hospital’s total recycling tonnage reached 715.39 with a revenue of $25,028. The reusable sharps container program diverted 3.53 tons of plastic from landfill with a costs savings of $6,273. A new program that reprocesses Neptune manifolds was initiated in 2017 which diverted about 7,000 pounds of waste from the landfills saving the hospital $37,000 annually. And, all hospital interior and exterior (streetlights, hospital garage and open parking lots) lighting has been switched to LED lights realizing a 67 percent energy savings due to this conversion. An added benefit is LED lights last longer and are brighter than electric lights.

“This prestigious award is especially meaningful coming from the DEC — an organization whose mission is ‘to conserve, improve and protect New York’s natural resources and environment,’” said Jill Kavoukian, Director of Healthcare Safety & Sustainability at Stony Brook University Hospital. “This recognition acknowledges the innovative work accomplished by our dedicated interdisciplinary team at Stony Brook University Hospital. They continue to seek new and more effective ways to improve our environmental performance through conservation, purchasing, reduction, reuse and recycling. It’s a true milestone in our healthcare sustainability journey.”

The recognition awards were presented at the DEC’s 15th Annual New York State Environmental Excellence Awards Celebration on November 14 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Find out more about Stony Brook Medicine’s Sustainability Program.