As an organization deeply rooted in creating healthy communities, TMC Health is taking steps to become a more sustainable organization. From composting to energy conservation, TMC Health recognizes that environmental sustainability is essential to long-term public well-being.

Here’s a snapshot of how some of TMC Health’s facilities are reducing its carbon footprint on the environment:

Tucson Medical Center

• Food Services is collecting pre-consumer unused produce and inedible off cuts from the kitchen for the city of Tucson’s Foodcycle program in partnership with the University of Arizona’s Compost Cats. Since the program started in February, it has offset about 800 gallons of compost.

• The IS department provided education to staff about what is recyclable and has acquired the City of Tucson’s blue, orange and purple bins for recycling different materials. This team has offset 780 pounds of blue items, 44 pounds of orange items and 40+ pounds of purple items.

• Wellness and Food & Nutrition Services are launching a mug library at the Cafeteria and Pepper’s Cafe to encourage the use of reusable coffee mugs, rather than disposable. It will work much like a free little library with the leave a cup take a cup concept.

• As seasons change, Plant Services continuously analyzes systems performance and adjusts HVAC setpoints to curtail waste. While individual settings yield insignificant, ROI, their combined efforts offset kilowatt hours equating to tens of thousands of dollars every month.

TMC Rincon

• LED lighting is used throughout the hospital, reducing energy consumption and extending the lifespan of light sources.

• There is a central controls system to assist with managing temperature throughout the building.

• Landscape irrigation uses non-potable water, which conserves freshwater supplies and reduces fertilizer costs.

Northern Cochise Community Hospital

• NCCH in Willcox is converting its light fixtures to LED. This project is about 40% complete and will have a huge impact on energy usage and cost as well as reducing demand on its electrical systems.

• The nursing staff prints double-sided and utilizes patient portals to reduce paper usage, makes sure lights are off when rooms are not in use and orders in bulk to reduce packaging and travel.

• The hospital holds a blanket drive, encouraging the community to reduce the number of textiles going into the landfills while benefiting people in need.