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PROVIDENCE NEWBERG GETS GREEN - AND GOLD!
NEW MEDICAL CENTER IS “GREENEST”
HOSPITAL IN THE NATION |
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Aug. 8, 2006
NEWBERG, Ore. - Oregon’s newest hospital is also the nation’s greenest. The U.S. Green Building Council has announced that Providence Newberg Medical Center (PNMC) received Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, making it the “greenest” hospital in the United States. Providence Newberg is the first hospital in the nation to earn this designation.
“We've been working for this kind of recognition from the earliest stages of the project, and to see it come true is a tribute to everyone who has done so much to make it happen,” said Larry Bowe, chief executive, Providence Newberg Medical Center. “This is a great honor and shows Providence’s commitment to the health of our community.”
This recognition makes Providence Newberg a national leader in creating a healthy hospital environment for patients, visitors and employees through design, construction and material selection.
"All the evidence shows that green hospitals help people heal faster," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "As the first LEED Gold hospital, Providence Newberg Medical Center is proving their commitment not only to the health of their patients, but also to the well-being of their staff, their community, and the environment. Providence’s leadership is an inspiration to health care providers everywhere."
Providence Newberg is the first hospital to be built from the ground up in three decades by Providence Health System (PHS). Providence leaders decided early in the process that this $70.6 million facility would set the standard for good stewardship, a core value of PHS. It has.
“It’s the smart way to build,” explains Richard Beam, Providence Health System director of energy management services. “We use our natural resources responsibly, we reduce our energy costs, and as a result we put more money back into patient care and the community. Most importantly, we create a healthy building for patients and staff.”
Highlights of this state-of-the-art green medical facility include: - 100 percent outdoor air fills the building through a unique ventilation system, creating a dramatically healthier indoor air quality for patients, visitors and employees.
- 100 percent of all electrical needs met by purchasing green power (50 percent wind, 25 percent geothermal, 25 percent low impact hydro). PNMC is the only hospital in the nation to purchase 100 percent green power.
- Participation in the Dispatchable Standby Generation program through Portland General Electric (PGE), which allows PNMC to sell power produced by the medical facility’s two 750 kilowatt emergency generators to PGE in times of peak demand for the utility. The energy produced by the generators can power up to 3,000 homes.
- Occupancy sensors, daylight controls and centralized lighting control systems turn off lights when spaces are unoccupied.
- All public spaces and waiting areas include use of natural light through design and feature views of nearby hillsides and natural scenery.
The U.S. Green Building Rating System is a voluntary national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Providence Newberg Medical Center is now a model example for this program.
Obtaining the gold certification was the direct result of a collaborative approach between Providence Health System and the design and construction team. Key players included Green Building Services, Mahlum Architects, Glumac International, Degenkolb Engineers, Larry Anderson Engineering, Inc., Engineering Economics Inc., Mayer/Reed and Skanska USA Building.
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Providence Newberg Medical Center is part of Providence Health System, which provides complete health care peace of mind through a network of hospitals, clinics, health plans and home services. Providence Newberg Medical Center opened its doors on June 16, 2006.
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