By Amy Zimmer
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — A "green team" from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has spent the last two years developing ways for the hospital, with more than 11,000 employees in 40 locations, to become more energy efficient and reduce its waste.
Now, the Upper East Side hospital's efforts have been recognized. At, the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards in Phoenix, Ariz., Memorial Sloan-Kettering was honored with the 2011 "Partner for Change Award."
Practice Greenhealth, a national organization for eco-friendly healthcare facilities, gives the "Partner for Change" award to institutions improving their mercury elimination, waste reduction and pollution prevention programs. Those applying for the award must, for instance, recycle at least 10 percent of their total waste
"The center is committed to reducing its environmental impact and we are continually monitoring our progress to improve our performance," Cynthia McCollum, associate hospital administrator and chair of the green team at Sloan-Kettering, said in a statement. "Receiving this award is confirmation that we are on the right track."
Sloan-Kettering's green team has already implemented a "greening the operating room" initiative and a shutdown of nearly 90 percent — or 8,700 — of eligible computers at night, up from only 16 percent from two years, according to hospital officials. It is also participating in the Bloomberg administration's "Hospital Challenge" to reduce green house emissions by 30 percent.
