"The Greenest"

Even back in the 1990s, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center was the first Israeli hospital to make use of solar energy, having installed a system on parts of the roof. Since then they have continued and expanded the various processes designed to encourage recycling and energy conservation, while safeguarding public health. The high point of these processes came this week at the ceremony to confer the Green Mark for medical institutions. Hillel Yaffe Medical Center is also the first government hospital in Israel to receive this green quality mark.

Why green?

"Compliance with the Green Mark requires various, ongoing work across the organization concerning recycling materials such as paper, plastic, iron and the like, energy conservation, reduction in water consumption, use of environmentally friendly materials, proper treatment of waste, and more," said Yehudit Eli, Deputy Director of Administration at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, who chairs the Environmental Protection Committee that has and continues to deal with the Green Mark at the hospital. "Today we use a solar system for heating, which supplies 30% of the hospital's water consumption. We purchase energy-efficient light bulbs and equipment that has been assigned energy efficiency grades, use a central system to shut off air conditioners and lights, and we recycle paper, plastic and electronic equipment (which is donated free of charge to the community). In addition, we have shown significant savings in water usage in the gardens by using economical taps, reducing water pressure and watering only at night, and we have planted artificial plants where it has been possible."

The activity, only part of which has been mentioned here, has significantly conserved energy, and it in the future is supposed to lead to monetary savings. Dr. Amnon Ben Moshe pointed out, "Recognizing that the earth's resources are limited, we have set targets for ourselves that among other things refer to conserving resources, reducing energy consumption, minimizing the use of products that harm the environment by employees, visitors and the community around us."

Right to left: Mr. Danny Goldstein, Prof. Meir Oren, Mr. Dov Fast, Dr. Amnon Ben Moshe, Mrs. Yehudit Eli. Photo: Zion Yehezkel

 Complying with the standard

The hospital’s has been committed to environmental protection for decades. In 1990, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center was the first, and even today remains the only hospital to have installed a solar system on the roof to reduce its energy consumption. Over the years, additional work procedures related to environmental protection have been instituted. In 2011, it was decided together with the management of the Ministry of Health that Hillel Yaffe would be the first hospital that would act to obtain the Green Mark from the Standards Institution of Israel.

"The award this week of the certificate by the Standards Institution has crowned a great deal of work, and above all is the definitive proof that any hospital in Israel can comply with the stringent criteria of the Green Mark, if they just decide they want to," said Danny Goldstein, CEO of the Standards Institution of Israel.

Dov Fast, Senior Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health’s Human Resources Unit, agrees and considers Hillel Yaffe a pioneer in Israel that will pave the way for other hospitals to follow.

At Hillel Yaffe they agree that the result has been worth it, even though the effort has been far from trivial. According to Prof. Meir Oren, HYMC Director General, the Green Mark is one layer in the intricate tapestry of actions undertaken at Hillel Yaffe to improve quality, environmental quality and the quality of treatment for the patients and their families, such as accreditation, branding of the hospital and the data security standard. "To conclude," stated Prof. Oren, "This is the beginning of the way to which we are committed, and despite the difficulties and economic distress, we are investing and paying attention to the issue of environmental protection and the quality of all of our lives."