Jump to main content.

Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Healthcare Newsletter - January 7, 2009

Disclaimer: Some of the events, articles, and websites listed in this e-mail are non-EPA sponsored. EPA is listing them for your information only and is not responsible for the content of the websites/articles or the information distributed at a non-EPA listed event. EPA does not endorse any commercial product, service, or enterprise, and the policy views of any included organization do not necessarily reflect EPA's views.

On this page

  1. Maryland Hospital Association Hosts Session on Green Goals for 2009
  2. US EPA, Partners Kick Off Green Building Design Challenge
  3. Proposed Revisions to EPA's Green Partnership Program Requirements
  4. 2009 CARE Grant RFP is Now Available--Hospitals Can Partner with Communities for Grant Funds
  5. Practice Greenhealth Looks for Examples of Sustainability Training
  6. EPA Should Pursue Cumulative Risk Assessment of Phthalates and Other Chemicals
  7. The Start of Something Big: REACH
  8. DOE Releases a New Version of EnergyPlus Simulation Software
  9. Kresge Foundation Grants Available for Green Buildings
  10. Medical Waste Incinerator Rule Proposed
  11. Reminder on Universal Waste Rule Comment Period
  12. 2009 Buyer-Grower Meetings in Maryland
  13. Clean Med at Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL
  14. FoodMed, Detroit, MI. June 30-July 1, 2009
  15. Practice Greenhealth Webinars

Other Issues of This Newsletter | Contact for This Newsletter

ANNOUNCEMENTS and OPPORTUNITIES

1. Maryland Hospital Association Hosts Session on Green Goals for 2009

January 22, 2009, 9 a.m. to noon at MHA in Elkridge, MD. Bring your green goals to a session with other Maryland hospitals. Share your successes and challenges and listen to other Maryland hospitals' plans and successes. Hear a presentation by Rachel DeMunda, Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Mercy Medical Center, as she discusses Mercy's successes, challenges, and goals for the new year. RSVP to Joan Plisko (plisko@son.umaryland.edu) at Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment .

2. US EPA, Partners Kick Off Green Building Design Challenge

In the 3rd year of the Lifecycle Building Challenge competition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and partners are inviting the nation's architects, product developers, educators, environmental leaders, and students to submit innovative designs that minimize waste, reuse materials, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Ideas generated by the contest help jumpstart the building industry toward diverting the more than 100 million tons of building-related construction and demolition debris sent each year to landfills in the United States. This free, Web-based competition supports an on-line library of competition entries and green building resources. The "Lifecycle Building Challenge 3" - co-sponsored by the EPA, American Institute of Architects, West Coast Green, the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, StopWaste.Org, and WasteCap Wisconsin - invites professionals and students nationwide to submit designs and ideas by August 30 that support cost-effective disassembly and anticipate future reuse of building materials. The challenge, open to built and unbuilt projects has two main categories: (1) Building-an entire building from foundation to roof and (2) Product-building products or materials. Outstanding entries in each category will be recognized and publicized in national journals and at conferences nationwide. The competition's partners will also recognize exceptional entries in two other Outstanding Achievement Awards: Best Greenhouse Gas Reduction Design and Best School Design. More information or enter the competition Exit EPA Disclaimer.

3. Proposed Revisions to EPA's Green Partnership Program Requirements

Comments on the proposed changes are due by January 15, 2009. View the proposed changes (PDF) (5 pp, 67K, About PDF) .

4. 2009 CARE Grant RFP is Now Available--Hospitals Can Partner with Communities for Grant Funds

The 2009 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CARE Cooperative Agreement Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available on-line. The application deadline is March 16, 2009. The CARE website has additional information related to the CARE RFP Exit EPA Disclaimer, including our upcoming Q&A Webcasts. Approximately $3 million will be available in 2009 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities that have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities, and become self-sustaining. In 2008, $2.7 million in cooperative agreements were made available to more than 18 communities through the CARE program, a community-based, community-driven program that builds partnerships to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources. Since 2005, the grants to reduce toxics in the environment have reached over 60 communities in over 30 states. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations and universities. EPA will conduct three conference calls, Feb. 3, 24 and 27, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process. Additional information about the CARE program, previous cooperative agreement recipients, and applying for the 2009 grants is available. Register Exit EPA Disclaimer for the upcoming CARE Internet Seminar for any of the above dates.

5. Practice Greenhealth Looks for Examples of Sustainability Training

The non-profit organization Practice Greenhealth is looking for examples of training materials (posters, brochures, power point presentations, etc.) for new or existing employees that hospitals are using to educate staff on their role in your sustainability mission. Practice Greenhealth would like to post these examples on their web site. Take a look at the Member Toolkit Exit EPA Disclaimer for examples of Green Team logos, mission statements and more, to get an idea of the documents that have been shared by PGH members.

IN THE NEWS

6. EPA Should Pursue Cumulative Risk Assessment of Phthalates and Other Chemicals

December 18. 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should examine whether combined exposures to chemicals known as phthalates could cause adverse health effects in humans, says a new report from the National Research Council.  In addition, this analysis, called a cumulative risk assessment, should consider other chemicals that could potentially cause the same health effects as phthalates, instead of focusing on chemicals that are similar in structure, which is EPA's current practice.  Furthermore, EPA should consider using the recommended approach for future cumulative risk assessments on other kinds of chemicals. Phthalates are used in a wide variety of consumer products, such as cosmetics, medical devices, children's toys, and building materials.  In light of concerns, the European Union and the United States have passed legislation that restricts the concentrations of several phthalates in children's toys, and the European Union has also banned several phthalates from cosmetics.  EPA asked the Research Council to recommend whether it should conduct a cumulative risk assessment for phthalates, and if so, how it should be framed.  Accordingly, the National Research Council report is not a comprehensive profile on the health effects of phthalates. Entire article Exit EPA Disclaimer.

7. The Start of Something Big: REACH

The Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has taken effect in Europe with the publication of a candidate list of 15 "substances of very high concern." The list is intended to encourage development of safer alternatives. Impacts in the United States are expected to be significant, as worldwide companies must meet REACH standards throughout their supply chain. This from an article Exit EPA Disclaimer in Environmental Science Technology of December 24, 2008.

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

8. DOE Releases a New Version of EnergyPlus Simulation Software

December 4, 2008 - The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a new version of the award-winning EnergyPlus building energy analysis simulation program. EnergyPlus models a building's heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, water, and other energy flows so designers and engineers can test different system combinations before construction begins. Version 3.0--available for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh operating systems--includes several new features such as new data sets; input syntax changes; updated zone and ventilation controls and models; enhanced cost calculations and economic reporting; and extended documentation and guides. For users interested in retrofitting, DOE has also updated and extended the program's capabilities for modeling existing building envelope, daylighting, and HVAC equipment and systems. More information Exit EPA Disclaimer.

9. Kresge Foundation Grants Available for Green Buildings

The Kresge Foundation, through its Green Building Initiative and potentially through its Health Program, offers grant funding for sustainable buildings Exit EPA Disclaimer. Planning grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 are available to support organizations conducting integrated design. Hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission are eligible for the funds. The planning grants cover additional costs associated with implementing the integrated design process. Kresge Foundation's Health Program has an integrated, cross-sector, multi-system approach to community wellness. The description seems to indicate that hospitals could develop partnerships to bring together the natural environment, the built environment, and the social environment. More info Exit EPA Disclaimer.

10. Medical Waste Incinerator Rule Proposed

A reminder that you can comment on a medical waste incinerator rule, proposed by EPA on December 1, 2008. Deadline for comments is February 19, 2009.

11. Reminder on Universal Waste Rule Comment Period

EPA also seeks public comment on a proposal to add hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule under RCRA. The proposal is in the Federal Register (PDF) (26 pp, 211K, About PDF) of December 2, 2008. Comments are due by February 2, 2009. More information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

12. 2009 Buyer-Grower Meetings in Maryland

January 29, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis. A future meeting will be held in Baltimore. Meet farmers to start a farm stand, farmers' market, or CSA. For more info: 410-706-1924.

13. Clean Med at Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL

May 18-20, 2009 (watch for details Exit EPA Disclaimer). Deadline for submitting award nomination to Practice Greenhealth, to be distributed at Clean Med, is February 9, 2009. Details and Application forms Exit EPA Disclaimer.

14. FoodMed, Detroit, MI. June 30-July 1, 2009

For more details Exit EPA Disclaimer.

15. Practice Greenhealth Webinars

NOTE: All webinars are at 1:00 p.m. There is a cost to participate. For information and to register Exit EPA Disclaimer.

Top of page

Mid-Atlantic Region || Mid-Atlantic Env'l Assessment & Innovation || Mid-Atlantic Going Green

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.