MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

November 9 , 2011

LHSC receives Green Health Care Award for Energy Efficiency

LONDON, ON – London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is proud to announce its receipt of the Green Health Care Award for Energy Efficiency. The award, which recognizes leadership and excellence in reducing health care's environmental impact, was presented to LHSC earlier this week at the Ontario Hospital Association's, HealthAchieve 2011 conference.

The Green Health Care Award for Energy Efficiency distinguishes a candidate that has demonstrated a reduction in their environmental impact as a result of energy efficiency practices, reduced energy consumption, demand management, generation of green energy or other measures. LHSC was selected as the winner by HealthAchieve Show Management, Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (CCGHC) for its Energy Stewardship Program.

"At LHSC, we see sustainability and conservation as important elements of being an inspiring and leading academic organization," says Bonnie Adamson, President and CEO, LHSC. "We're committed to doing our part and the entire team at LHSC is honoured by this award. By reducing the harmful side effects of building operations and providing education and awareness to our staff, LHSC and the Energy Stewardship Program are improving the environment in which we live."

The Energy Stewardship Program is an innovative and collaborative program that focuses on a comprehensive energy procurement retrofitting existing buildings and equipment for efficiency, monitoring and tracking energy cost and performance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and staff engagement and behavioural change. Since its creation, the Energy Stewardship Program at LHSC has saved the organization over three million dollars annually while also reducing GHG emissions by over 8,000,000 kilograms each year.

"We are thrilled to be recognized for our energy efficiency efforts," says Phil Renaud, Director of Facilities Engineering, LHSC. "When we introduced our Energy Stewardship Program in 2003, our goal was to establish LHSC as a centre of excellence and model for other facilities in the procurement, production, and utilization of energy resources. This award reinforces the ongoing effort we've made toward achieving that goal so far."

Renaud notes that, "programs such as this are vital in today's hospital setting. We know there are much greater rewards for using energy efficiently than being able to compete with rising energy costs. For hospitals, energy efficiency can provide better working environments and overall healthier living."

About London Health Sciences Centre

London Health Sciences Centre has been in the forefront of medicine in Canada for 136 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, South Street Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, two family medical centres, and two research institutes – Children’s Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute, a joint research initiative with St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 50 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in Southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s nearly 15,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit www.lhsc.on.ca .

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For media inquiries contact:                                                               

Mandy Gelinas

Corporate Communications and Public Relations

London Health Sciences Centre

519-685-8500, ext. 75157   mandy.gelinas@lhsc.on.ca

After-hours assistance:

Call LHSC Switchboard at 519-685-8500 and ask to page the communication consultant on-call.