GREENVol. 5, Spring 2014

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Sunnybrook’s Smart Energy Actions Program

In 2013, Sunnybrook launched the smart energy actions program to implement energy projects that will help the hospital to use energy more efficiently and with purpose. Our first smart energy actions included the implementation of a Sunnybrook Energy Use Web Portal and the ENBALA Grid Balancing initiative.

ENBALA Grid Balancing

Sunnybrook is participating in an innovative new smart grid program and helping Ontario’s electricity grid to keep the lights on.

Sunnybrook has teamed up with ENBALA Power Networks to provide real-time regulation service, known as Grid Balance®, to the Ontario electricity grid. Traditional demand response programs require an electricity customer to curtail their energy use for hours at a time, which is not something that is easily achievable for a hospital. Participation in Grid Balance® requires real-time power draw adjustments for only short periods of time (usually less than 15 minutes). This makes it easy for hospital facilities to participate because shifting when the power is used does not affect the cooling capacity provided or how much total energy is used.

Grid Balance® helps to match Ontario’s total electricity generation with Ontario’s total electricity demand on a second by second basis, keeping it in balance. Since electricity is not traditionally stored, it is very important that the amount of electricity generated in each moment correctly match the demand

loads. As we introduce more variability into our province’s power generation by connecting more solar and wind power (which are intermittent sources are power), keeping the grid in balance becomes more difficult and more important. ENBALA has connected a network of large electricity consumers to provide Grid Balance® to the Ontario electricity grid. Through the use of their innovative smart grid technology platform, GOFlex™, ENBALA can intelligently manage the flexibility of electricity loads in response to real-time needs of the electricity grid. The result is a more reliable, sustainable and often cheaper method of regulation service.

Sunnybrook is one of the inaugural large electricity users participating in the program and the first in the healthcare sector. Sunnybrook has five large air conditioning chillers that are connected to ENABALA’s Ontario Grid Balance Network. There is flexibility in when and how power is used for these machines by adjusting the temperature of the cold water that is produced, all the while keeping hospital spaces within ordinary comfortable temperatures. Through participation in the program Sunnybrook is contributing to the overall reliability of the Ontario power grid and generating a new revenue stream to help sustain the hospital’s services. Sunnybrook expects to receive $15,000 - $30,000 annually for participating.

Energy Use Web Portal and Summer Energy Savings

The Sunnybrook Energy Use Web Portal, which displays Sunnybrook’s live energy demand, was launched to provide a real-time display of the hospital’s energy use demand. This information is especially useful during the hot summer weather when it is important to try to reduce the hospital’s peak electricity demand. Reducing our summer electricity peak (which occurs during hot summer days of >30OC) is important for 3 main reasons:

• Our peak electricity usage this summer determines the hospital’s electricity costs for next year

• Reducing our demand on peak days alleviates strain on the Ontario Electricity Grid

• At peak loads we are approaching the equipment capacity of some of our older electrical infrastructure and reducing demand reduces the risk of a critical energy loss situation

This summer, when the electricity loads are getting close to the peak, maintenance will be sending out e-mail and Sunnynet alerts reminding all staff to participate in Summer Energy Savings by turning off lights that are not required, turning up air conditioning temperature set-points in non critical areas, closing windows when the air is hotter outside, and lowering window blinds to keep heat out

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Vol. 5, Spring 2014Green Sunnybrook

Printed on recycled paper

THINK Recycling ProgramSunnybrook’s new toner recycling program – THINK – is here and it’s only a few clicks away. THINK is OfficeMax Grand & Toy’s ink and toner recycling solution for the office. Empty ink and toner cartridges are collected and remanufactured where possible – recycling all others that cannot go through the remanufacturing process. The program commits that 100% of the toner cartridges collected will be diverted from landfill.

It is reported that 1/3 of our national waste comes from materials used in the office. Discarded ink and toners account for a large portion of the waste, with over 300 million of them being dumped into the landfill annually, and it will take up to 1000 years for a toner cartridge to decompose. Sunnybrook purchases over 3500 toner cartridges annually, and by utilizing the new THINK program we can work together to ensure that these toner cartridges do not end up in landfill.

The process begins with empty toner collection in hospital areas. OfficeMax G&T makes our toner cartridge recycling program really simple and convenient. There are just 3 easy steps to setting up empty toner collection in your area:

Step 1: Order the toner recycling box for free (code # THINKBOX) on-line from OfficeMax G&T

Step 2: When you replace an empty toner with the new one you ordered; store the empty toner with the package in the THINK Box

Step 3: When the box is full, request an empty toner pick up (by processing a “return” for toner recycling) via the online OfficeMax G&T orders website.

We can all help Sunnybrook become an even greener hospital. Talk to the person in charge of ordering office supplies for your area and spread the word about the new THINK toner recycling program. With your conscious efforts we can move towards 100% toner recycling and reduce Sunnybrook’s office waste.

A detailed step by step THINK Program Guide is available on Sunnynet Environmental Sustainability under the green champion toolbox.

Introducing Sunnybrook’s new Printer Cartridge Recycling  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recycle in 3 Easy Steps: 1. Order your free THINK Box from Grand & Toy

2.Store used cartridges in your THINK Box

3.Request a pick-up when yourTHINK Box is full and

Grand & Toy will pick it up when they deliver your next order  

The 2014 “One Towel Challenge”Alright Sunnybrook, the challenge is ON! This summer we are challenging you to reduce your use of paper towels. In 2013, paper towels accounted for 18% of the hospital’s waste stream accounting for 400 tons of our total waste annually. We know that Sunnybrook can do better!

The 2014 “One Towel Challenge” challenges us to dry our hands with only one paper towel. Don’t think it’s possible, well TED Talks Speaker - Joe Smith suggests it’s easy when you use the proper technique which he calls – “The Shake

and Fold”. The technique is outlined in the comic below, or you can look up the TED Talks video for a demonstration, or simply invent your own technique. This summer let’s all resist the urge to take multiple towels and dry our hands using only one towel.

We will be partnering with Green for Life Recycling to track our progress over the next 5 months: May through September and we will be announcing how well we did during waste reduction week in October.

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Vol. 5, Spring 2014 Green Sunnybrook

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Sunnybrook Facilities Wins CHES Wayne McClellan Award of Excellence

The Wayne McClellan Award of Excellence recognizes facilities that have had outstanding success in the completion of a major capital project, an energy efficiency program, an environmental stewardship program, or other healthcare industry leadership project. Sunnybrook was selected as the 2013 recipient by the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society for the successful completion of the Energy & Facilities Renewal Program.

Over the past five years, Sunnybrook has partnered with Honeywell to improve Sunnybrook’s energy efficiency and green initiatives through the Energy & Facilities Renewal Program. The Program has been a successful application of the ESCO (Energy Services Company) model for implementing energy efficiency upgrades and has enabled Sunnybrook to carry out infrastructure upgrades without financial risk and pay for the project from energy savings. Honeywell fully guaranteed the energy savings required to fund $30 Million in energy and facility upgrade projects which would otherwise have been postponed or neglected due to funding challenges known to healthcare. The two phase program launched in 2008, has been very successful saving over $2,000,000 annually.

Energy efficiency and facility renewal projects included:

• Installation of 100 KW Solar PV Array

• Replacement of Holland Campus chillers and cooling towers to more energy-efficient models that use environmentally friendly refrigerants

• Installation of high-efficiency lighting systems and control strategies that provide better illumination while using less energy

• Upgrading and optimization of ventilation, heating and cooling equipment

• Improvement of aging mechanical systems that serve critical areas with more energy efficient products

• Upgrading building automation systems to optimize energy management

• Improvements to building envelope

• Launch of Environmental Sustainability Website and many environmental awareness programs

• Implementation of a Hydroclave waste system for disposal of biomedical wastes

“Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is honored to be recognized by CHES for our achievements in healthcare facilities management” says Michael McRitchie, Director of Plant Operations, Maintenance & Security at Sunnybrook. “The $30 million Energy & Facility Renewal program has allowed us to reduce operating costs, upgrade our building systems, and improve the hospital’s environmental conditions. It is an excellent example of how facilities management and engineering are contributing to a better health care experience and it is great to be able to celebrate our successes with this award.”

Plant Operations and Maintenance celebrated their success by hosting an open house during National Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week in October. Hospital staff were invited to come learn about the various trades and tour the power plant facilities. The event was well attended and successful by all accounts. If you missed it, don’t worry, Plant Operations and Maintenance plans to repeat the event every 2 or 3 years.

Green Tip Improving Indoor Air Quality at Home or Office

House plants can help improve indoor air quality by filtering out chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene – two toxic chemicals that are increasingly found within indoor spaces. Some common sources of formaldehyde in the home include: older carpeting, cleaners, foam insulation, furniture, paper products, plywood and particle board. Some common sources of benzene (which is a commonly used solvent) in the home or office include: inks and dyes, petroleum products like gasoline & oils, plastics, rubber products, synthetic fibers, tobacco smoke, detergents, and paints.

Three easy-to-care-for plants that are great at filtering out these two chemicals are:Aloe Vera Plant, Snake Plant, and Spider Plant.

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Vol. 5, Spring 2014Green Sunnybrook

Printed on recycled paper

Sunnybrook is Five Times One of Canada’s Greenest Employers

Thanks to the hard work of our staff and a significant number of innovative green programs, Sunnybrook was announced as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers again for 2013. This is the fifth year that Sunnybrook has earned the title. “We are so proud to earn this recognition for the fifth year in a row,” says Laura Berndt, Sunnybrook’s Manager of Energy & Sustainability. “I think it really speaks to Sunnybrook’s commitment to creating a more environmentally sustainable hospital environment.”

This special designation recognizes the employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations. As leaders in the industry, we want to build on this momentum and celebrate our accomplishments. Let’s look back at some of what we accomplished in 2013.

We kicked off the spring with the annual Earth Matters Showcase, inviting companies and partners to showcase what it means to be green at Sunnybrook. The event allowed over 1000 staff and volunteers to interact with other green minded individuals and companies, to ask questions about Sunnybrook’s sustainability initiatives, and learn even more ways to promote green change at work and home.

In April, we honored earth day by helping to clean and green Sunnybrook campus with the 20 Minute Makeover garbage clean-up. Four teams of trash collectors wandered the campus collecting over 60 lbs of garbage, of which 15 lbs was separated out for recycling.

In June, we biked to work in the spirit of bike month and we partnered with Smart Commute and the BUG to celebrate bike-to-work day. The Sunnybrook Bicycle User Group (BUG) is a network for cyclists in that has been in operation at Sunnybrook for many years, working together to advocate for secure bike parking, additional bicycle racks, bicycle paths and much more. Sunnybrook cyclists will be excited to know that in 2013 a new covered bike rack was installed at Beatty Wing Entrance at St. John’s Rehab campus.

Over the summer we expanded the cool roof initiative with the completion of another cool roof installation for A and C Wings. In partnership with Atlas-Apex Roofing, Sunnybrook added an additional 15,600 sq feet of cool roofing to the campus. A cool roof is a roofing system that can reflect the visible wavelengths of the sun, as opposed to absorbing it, thereby reducing heat transfer to the building and reducing the required cooling. In Sunnybrook’s case, a white gravel

coating was applied over a new roof system.

In October, we launched the ENABALA Grid Balancing Initiative, an innovative new smart grid program to provide real-time regulation service, known as Grid Balance®, to the Ontario electricity grid. Through participation in the program Sunnybrook is contributing to the overall reliability of the Ontario power grid and generating a new revenue stream to help sustain the hospital’s services (see the cover for the full story).

Finally, the Earth Matters Blog has kept us up to speed on the latest green issues and

initiatives including the hosptial’s environmental performance related to energy use - Green Energy Act, and chemical use - CHEMtrac. Sunnybrook’s Energy and Sustainability Manager, Laura Berndt may have changed her name in 2013 (formerly Laura Hough) but she is still exploring the interconnections between health and environment through the Earth Matters Blog.

Not a blog subscriber? Sign-up at: http://health.sunnybrook.ca/environment/

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