Becker’s Hospital Review recently published an interesting article about how “going green” can improve the bottom line for hospitals. And it seems to be working for the Mo.-based patient care facility, Heartland Health.

According to “The Energy to Go Green: 5 Changes to Help the Environment and Improve Your Hospital’s Bottom Line,” the hospital began its green initiative, which it titled ‘Jones ‘n to be Green’ after its unofficial Green leader, David Jones, Heartland Health’s vice president of support services, by “forming a green committee and opened it to all levels of employees with an interest in reducing the system’s carbon footprint.”

Heartland Health placed action to include 10 percent of its “green” efforts around reusing and recycling, 25 percent around transportation, and 65 percent around lowering energy use.

“The biggest thing you can do to protect the environment and lower costs is reducing energy use,” said David Jones. “It has the most bang for your buck.”

The healthcare facility found the following five changes great ways for hospitals to get involved in the green movement, and ultimately improve a hospital’s bottom line: upgrade HVAC system, other equipment and materials; ensure vendor contracts require recycling of waste; grease from cafeteria fryers recycled into fuel; replace inefficient lighting; and replace vehicles with energy efficient models.

In regards to replacing inefficient lighting, Jones said, “As bulbs age, their light output diminishes; thus they need more energy to operate. “People thought we’d painted and replaced the carpet.”

In closing, while going green is something we all should consider doing for the betterment of the environment, physician service providers should consider doing it for the betterment of their hospitals’ bottom lines.