At Oak Valley Health, we believe caring for the community goes beyond patient care. It means leaving a positive mark on the surrounding community and doing our part to be good green citizens. We are proud to be an environmental leader in our community.

We are always looking for opportunities to make our organization more environmentally friendly. Our commitment to the environment can be seen throughout our hospitals and in a number of key departments including facilities, environmental services, procurement, waste management, and sustainable energy.

Our partnership with Markham District Energy is a great example of working with leaders in the industry to use energy more efficiently. Other green initiatives include our LED lighting project complete with scheduled timers, a new reverse osmosis system, and a state-of-the-art building automation system, all of which promote energy savings and have a positive effect on our environment.

Facilities and corporate services: 2015 – 2022

Projects

  • Oak Valley Health is joining hundreds of organizations across Canada who are switching off for Earth Hour 2022, for the future of our planet. We proudly stand as part of a community that wants to #ShapeOurFuture and join the global movement for change (March 26, 2022).
  • 20 minute makeover challenge! Join us for The Great Global Cleanup – Every year in April, in honour of Earth Day, people across the world come together to take part in The Great Global Cleanup. It’s a campaign to remove billions of pieces of trash from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails, and parks — reducing waste and plastic pollution, improving habitats, and preventing harm to wildlife and humans. And this year, Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) and Uxbridge Hospital (UXB) will be participating
  • Conducted a study with the energy heat wheels in building B to conserve gas consumption (2020).
  • Energy position hired to supplement organizational capacity (2020).
  • Automated supply temperature and SP reset, fan and pump speed controls (2019).
  • Analysis of air test reports, re-balance to CSA, retrofits to allow zone control and reduce static pressure losses, adjust schedules (2019).
  • Install white roofs, conduct thermographic scans, re-point brickwork, local draft proofing and re-insulation (2019).
  • Installed and connected air conditioners, fridge and freezer compressors, and biohazardous fridge compressor to the District Cooling Loop, reducing water usage by 20% (2019).
  • Scheduling of air handling unit operation to match occupancy periods in building A (2016).
  • Upgraded recirculation controls on air handling units (2019).
  • Replacement of 20 air handling units (75% of the total) in building A (2019).
  • Retrofitted heat recovery wheels and repaired bypasses in air handling units to allow reduced motor speeds (2018).
  • Installation of variable speed drives to HVAC units in building A.
  • Reduced reheat by resetting supply air temperature set points (2018).
  • Shut down of building A steam lines in summer and replacement of steam traps identified as leaking in annual steam trap audit (2018-2021).
  • Water audit and beginning of conversion from domestic water to chilled water-cooled equipment (2019).
  • Installation of extensive sub-metering and system monitoring capability.
  • Increased operator involvement through Plant Services Committee.
  • Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) reduction in HVAC equipment and elimination of halons.
  • Comprehensive LED lighting retrofit (2018-2021).
  • Installation of rubber flooring that is entirely free of PVC, plasticizers, and heavy metals.
  • Installation of low-flow fixtures to achieve water use reduction of 40%.
  • Building envelope designed to increase thermal resistance.
  • Exterior lighting designed to minimize light pollution onto neighboring properties and reduce impact on the night sky.
  • Elimination of all cardboard in the operating room, outpatient procedure suite, sterile processing and distribution as medical supplies are received and delivered in reusable totes.
  • Replaced morgue cooler unit with energy efficient model.
  • Increased land diversion rate to 43%.
  • Implemented Stryker single use surgical device collection.

Awards and recognition

  • Green Hospital Scorecard (Silver) – (2021).
  • Ontario Water Works Association – Water Conservation and Efficiency Award (2020).
  • Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care Award for Pollution Prevention (2019).
  • Donald Cousens Conservation and Environmental Leadership Award (2018).
  • CHES SISS Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence (2018).
  • Canadian College of Healthcare Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award (2018).
  • Recognized by Greening Health Care with the 5 Percent Club for lowering facility energy use by more than 5% (2017, 2019, 2020).
  • In 2016 was recognized by Save on Energy as a Power Stream Energy Champion for reducing electricity consumption by 108.212 kWh (equivalent to powering 144 homes for 1 month).
  • Was recognized again in 2018 by Save on Energy as a Power Stream Energy Champion for reducing electricity consumption by 216.321 kWh (equivalent to powering 288 homes for 1 month).
  • Received LEED Silver Certification for building B (2015).

Initiatives

  • Implement Lifecycle PPE recycling in surgical area and expanding it throughout the hospital (2022).
  • Centralized waste collection in office space reducing plastic bags.
  • Development of a Greening and Sustainability Committee.
  • Annual Bike to Work Day.
  • Annual Greening and Sustainability Expo.
  • Greening tip segment added to corporate bimonthly newsletter.
  • Increased battery recycling program.
  • Implementation and management of an in-house carpooling program.
  • Partnership with Markham District Energy (MDE).
  • Development of Environmental and Sustainability Policy.
  • Extended the paperless initiative to using electronic tablets for patient meal ordering.
  • Reuse of furniture under refinishing and upholstering process – furniture materials being free of PVC.
  • Electronic device (E-waste) disposal program.

By implementing initiatives designed to decrease our environmental impact, use energy more efficiently, reduce resource consumption, and increase recycling, we are helping to ensure a more sustainable future. We are determined to reduce our environmental footprint even further as we continue to grow.