Sunnybrook Wins Environmental Award

Sunnybrook is setting the green pace for other healthcare institutions in the GTA and has been taking a proactive approach through its many successful projects aimed at reducing the use of energy, water, and waste. These projects have lead to recognition and cash incentives from the hospital’s energy supplier and the City of Toronto.

In fact, the hospital’s water conservation initiatives are so impressive, the City recently presented Sunnybrook with the 2008 Green Toronto Award for water efficiency. Sunnybrook is the first and only healthcare organization to win this award.
The Green Toronto awards are presented annually to individuals, organizations and companies leading the way to a cleaner, greener and more livable Toronto. Nominations are judged based on measured success of the green initiative(s), innovation, creativity and originality, environmental stewardship, and leadership.

Sunnybrook was named a winner for three significant water reduction projects it has recently completed:

• Replacement of steam traps, pipes, fittings and tanks resulted in instant savings by reducing condensation loss from 29 to nine per cent
• Replacement of an old and inefficient wooden cooling water tower in the Central Utility Plant with a new and much improved aluminum tower, reducing water usage by 90,833 litres per day
• Replacement of the hospital’s medical vacuum and medical air systems with a design that uses less water. Traditionally, these systems use pumps that consume large amounts of water. However, the new units are of “dry” design thus completely eliminating any water loss.
  

The City first recognized Sunnybrook in 2007 for its progress in water conservation through an incentive cheque in the amount of $52,988. The hospital was able to reduce water consumption by over 176,000 liters per day, enough water to provide service to 250 homes.