Lexington Medical Center Wins Earth Day Award
April 27, 2009
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – April 27, 2009 – Lexington Medical Center is a winner of the first South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Earth Day awards. DHEC recognized Lexington Medical Center at a ceremony in Columbia on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, Earth Day.
Lexington Medical Center won the large business/entity award category for implementing a multi-media environmental awareness program.
“It was an honor to accept this award on behalf of Lexington Medical Center,” said Dale Thompson, director of safety, environmental and sustainability services at Lexington Medical Center. “It recognizes our commitment and dedication to improving the environmental impact we as a health care system can have on our community and planet.”
DHEC honored Lexington Medical Center for several environmental efforts in 2008: Lexington Medical Center recycled more than a million gallons of water, recycled more than 610,000 pounds of material, reduced its municipal waste stream by 357,969 pounds, implemented a variety of air quality initiatives and recycled expired and unused medical supplies by donating them to animal shelters and sanctuaries. In addition, more than two thousand employees and customers participated in Lexington Medical Center’s Earth Day celebration and, in conjunction with the South Carolina Hospital Association, Lexington Medical Center hosted the first “Green Cleaning” symposium for hospitals in South Carolina.
Other winners included Linda Van Epps, Riverside High School, the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort and Oakview Elementary School. “By developing sustainable programs that result in energy efficiency, cost savings, pollution prevention, waste reduction and other measurable environmental improvements and protections, they have each demonstrated meaningful ways that citizens – alone or as a group – can make a positive difference for our environment,” said Bob King, DHEC’s Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Quality Control.
It’s not the first time Lexington Medical Center has been recognized for its “green” efforts. Lexington Medical Center was the first health care organization in South Carolina to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its “green” medical office building on the hospital campus. The building meets U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) standards for sustainable site development, energy efficiency, conservation of materials and resources and indoor environment quality.
Lexington Medical Center was also the 2008 “Outstanding Air Quality Business of the Year” in the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Spare the Air awards. According to DHEC, Lexington Medical Center received the honor for its continued commitment to providing quality health services while improving the environmental footprint.
Lexington Medical Center’s president and CEO Mike Biediger is currently profiled on The Daily Green as a nominee for the prestigious Heart of Green Local Hero Award, which recognizes people, organizations and companies that have taken the green message mainstream.
And, Lexington Medical Center’s director of engineering Kevin Stanley and assistant director of engineering Todd Overcash received LEED professional accreditation from the Green Building Certification Institute for demonstrating thorough understanding of green building.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,100 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the state, an occupational health center and physician practices. At its heart is the 384-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center was voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for nine years in a row, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times and “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent. Visit www.lexmed.com or www.lexmed.tv.
