Some of the Modesto Medical Center’s earth-friendly features include: 

• Use of natural light, with large windows incorporated into hallways, patient rooms, and the main entrance.
• The hospital will be fully wired with its electronic care system, KP Health Connect, eliminating the need for paper records
• Resilient rubber flooring over vinyl. One major perk of rubber is that it never needs to be waxed or stripped, thus eliminating the need for chemical cleaners.
• PVC-free carpeting, backed with recycled film, used throughout the building.
• PVC-free bumper guards and safety rails on patient floors.
• Phovoltaic lighting for the parking lot and walkways.
• Landscaping comprised of native, drought tolerant plants and grasses – resulting in less water waste and fewer chemicals to maintain.
• Permeable pavement in the driveway which allows rainwater to filter through, recharging groundwater and filtering chemicals from runoff.
• Rooftop solar panels generating enough power for 20 homes, but of course in this case, they’ll be powering the medical facility.
• Reflective or “cool” roofing
• Greener furniture and fixtures.
• Hospital food from local farmers will be served.

Kaiser Permanente is using the Modesto facility as a good practice model and plans on incorporating the same green aspects into future facilities.

I think this is pretty cool. It’s nice to see a typical commercial structure, one that many people will use, go green. There’s plenty of learning opportunities here, both for individuals who receive care and for other medical facilities. It’ll be great to see what works best for a green project of this scope.

What do you think? I know that given the choice, I’d be more likely to choose a green medical facility. Would you?

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