November 1, 2006—Oregon’s newest hospital, Providence Newberg Medical Center (PNMC), is the first hospital in the nation to receive Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
According to Providence Newberg, in just 14 months the $70.6 million facility will have repaid its initial investment—and in just over a year the new facility will save nearly 26 percent in annual energy costs.
Feature of the green medical facility include:
- 100 percent outdoor air fills the building through a unique ventilation system, creating healthier indoor air quality for patients, visitors, and employees;
- 100 percent of all electrical needs met by purchasing green power (50 percent wind, 25 percent geothermal, 25 percent low-impact hydro)—reportedly the only hospital in the nation to purchase 100 percent green power;
- Participation in the Dispatchable Standby Generation program through Portland General Electric (PGE), which allows PNMC to sell power produced by the medical facility’s two 750-kilowatt emergency generators to PGE in times of peak demand for the utility. The energy produced by the generators can reportedly power up to 3,000 homes;
- Occupancy sensors, daylight controls, and centralized lighting control systems turn off lights when spaces are unoccupied; and
- All public spaces and waiting areas include use of natural light through design, and feature views of nearby hillsides and natural scenery.
