Health Care Climate Council member Hackensack Meridian Health and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) have together won the 2018 Regional Energy Project of the Year Award from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), which honors individuals and companies for their dedication and performance in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry. The award was given in recognition of energy efficiency work completed at Hackensack University Medical Center through the PSE&G Hospital Efficiency Program. The medical center is a Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award winner for 2018, Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor for hospitals, and Hackensack Meridian Health is a demonstrated leader in climate solutions.

PSE&G’s Hospital Efficiency Program and Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center were honored by AEE for an extensive chilled water system upgrade, as well as repairs and replacements to components of the hospital’s steam system, conversion of parking garage lighting to LEDs and the installation of a device that captures and utilizes residual heat from a boiler exhaust vent. The $13.1 million project was completed in three phases spanning five years.

In addition to significant dollar savings, the project will also conserve more than 5.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power more than 750 homes annually and 340,000 therms of natural gas annually, which is enough to supply about 350 homes for a year.

“Hackensack University Medical Center is proud to be at the forefront of health care sustainability through partnerships with PSE&G through its Hospital Efficiency Program,” said Mark D. Sparta, president of Hackensack University Medical Center and executive vice president of population health for Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are committed to sustainability and creating innovative partnerships and initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint while creating a healthier and cleaner environment. As health care providers, we have a responsibility to promote health and wellness, and environmental responsibility is a critical component of that effort.”

The PSE&G Hospital Efficiency Program is a $199 million effort that funds the installation of energy conservation measures at hospitals and health care facilities in PSE&G’s electric and/or gas service territory. PSE&G provides upfront funding for the total cost of the energy efficiency improvements and interest-free, on-bill repayment for the hospital’s share of the costs, which is typically between 30 percent and 40 percent of the total.

Work has been completed at 36 hospitals, with an average annual energy cost savings of about $400,000 per hospital.

Health Care Without Harm congratulates Hackensack Meridian Health on being recognized for their leadership in protecting their communities from air pollution and the health threats posed by a changing climate. Hospitals and health systems can follow Hackensack’s lead by joining the Health Care Climate Challenge.