The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that the City of Chicago will receive a $500,000 federal grant to reduce energy use by hospitals as one of 20 Climate Showcase Communities nationwide.
Chicago has partnered with Health Care Without Harm to create the Chicago Green Healthcare Initiative. According to Chicago’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, energy use by hospitals and other buildings is one of the primary contributors to the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The partnership will use EPA funds to help 22 hospitals reduce energy use by 5 to 10 percent and will provide educational assistance to a total of 111 hospitals to help improve their energy efficiency. Typically, hospitals increase energy use 1 to 3 percent annually.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
