Greening Initiatives for Harlem Hospital Center

"Harlem Hospital Center (HHC) is two years along in its five­year Modernization Capital Campaign to upgrade its campus and build a new patient pavilion. HHC has a long and distinguished tradition of providing innovative, high­quality health care programs and services to the Harlem community, and aims to continue providing leadership by incorporating greening standards into its modernization program. By incorporating green practices, HHC will not only reduce operating costs and environmental waste but also provide its patients with a healthier healing environment and maintain a moral obligation to reduce its carbon footprint in the Harlem community. The Capstone team's main objective was to provide HHC with greening alternatives that can be incorporated into renovation of its existing facilities and create long­term savings. The team provided HHC with extensive research which included presentation of greening initiative models incorporated by other health care facilities, trade expert interviews with those involved in greening projects at other local NYC hospitals, and a three­year cost benefit analysis of the recommended initiatives. It is the goal of the Capstone team to assist HHC in becoming an environmental steward in the healthcare community. "