Newsroom
ENERGY STAR® for Superior Energy Efficiency
Rush Oak Park Hospital is currently the only hospital in Illinois to earn the ENERGY STAR® this year.
Oak Park, IL
(October 26, 2009) —
Rush Oak Park Hospital is one of three hospitals in Illinois to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR®, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. The building’s energy performance rates in the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide.
Rush Oak Park Hospital currently is the only hospital in the state to earn the award this year.
“A lot of changes have been implemented over the years, but 2009 is by far the biggest,” says James Tucker, director of Facilities and Security at Rush Oak Park Hospital. “We’re very pleased to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR® in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts. Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs.”
Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR® use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Rush Oak Park Hospital improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to preserving our environment and our natural resources,” said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. “From office buildings to hotels, supermarkets to schools, the ENERGY STAR® distinguishes those organizations who are taking environmental responsibility into their own hands.”
To earn the ENERGY STAR®, Rush Oak Park Hospital took the following actions:
• Converted light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs that use less energy.
• Staggered equipment start-up to reduce loads.
• Implemented setback controls in non-clinical areas.
• Utilized smaller boiler for longer periods when it was warmer than 30 degrees.
• Implemented rounding by Security staff to eliminate non-essential lighting after visiting hours.
EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR®. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR® include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories and warehouses.
ENERGY STAR® was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR® label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR® designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR®, saved about $19 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.
For more information about ENERGY STAR®, visit www.energystar.gov. For more information about Rush Oak Park Hospital, visit www.roph.org.
For more information, please contact Emily Dagostino in the Marketing and Communications Department at 708-660-3644.
Rush Oak Park Hospital currently is the only hospital in the state to earn the award this year.
“A lot of changes have been implemented over the years, but 2009 is by far the biggest,” says James Tucker, director of Facilities and Security at Rush Oak Park Hospital. “We’re very pleased to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR® in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts. Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs.”
Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR® use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Rush Oak Park Hospital improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to preserving our environment and our natural resources,” said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. “From office buildings to hotels, supermarkets to schools, the ENERGY STAR® distinguishes those organizations who are taking environmental responsibility into their own hands.”
To earn the ENERGY STAR®, Rush Oak Park Hospital took the following actions:
• Converted light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs that use less energy.
• Staggered equipment start-up to reduce loads.
• Implemented setback controls in non-clinical areas.
• Utilized smaller boiler for longer periods when it was warmer than 30 degrees.
• Implemented rounding by Security staff to eliminate non-essential lighting after visiting hours.
EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR®. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR® include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories and warehouses.
ENERGY STAR® was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR® label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR® designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR®, saved about $19 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.
For more information about ENERGY STAR®, visit www.energystar.gov. For more information about Rush Oak Park Hospital, visit www.roph.org.
For more information, please contact Emily Dagostino in the Marketing and Communications Department at 708-660-3644.
