Cork University Hospital (CUH) has scooped a 'Green Flag' for reducing its carbon footprint.

The award, from the Foundation for Environmental Education and An Taisce, acknowledges CUH as a leading healthcare organisation in green initiatives.

The green initiatives have saved the hospital €96,318 in 2013, which would provide enough heating and power for 66 households a year based on their typical consumption, equivalent to 1,265,862 kwhr or 493 tonnes green house gases reduction. The campus improved its waste management practices and this resulted in an increase in the waste recycling rate to 34%; a reduction in food waste by three tonnes and a reduction of health care risk (clinical) waste by nine tonnes.

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CUH CEO Mr. Tony McNamara: "By creating a healthier environment for patients, staff and visitors, we are taking an important step in achieving the best outcomes for our patients and supporting community health.Specific changes in the ways we operate will lay the groundwork for better health – inside and outside our hospital walls. In recent years we have endeavoured to transform the design, construction and operations of CUH campus facilities to minimise environmental impacts and foster healthy, healing environments. With the assistance of staff we have also improved energy efficiency and waste management practices. We can quickly adopt proven practices and generate cost savings that allow us to devote more resources to do what we do best: provide high-quality, safe healthcare services."

(CD)