How Can You Green Your Practice?

Does going “green” with a veterinary practice mean having employees ride energy-generating bicycles on their breaks, tapping into a nearby geyser, or collecting cow manure to make methane gas? Fortunately, no. However, there are many practical ways you can green your practice.

 

Going “green” means becoming more environmentally responsible, more concerned about energy conservation, and reducing waste. Going green is something many veterinarians can consider and it can also save them money.

 

“If you can show partners you’ll save money, they’ll go for it,” advises CVMA Board member Dr. Jay Kerr.

 

Dr. Kerr’s former practice is the Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center (BRVC) in San Ramon. Green improvements made at BRVC by Dr. Kerr and his partners include:

 

Installing 324 solar panels on the roof. At midday on a cloudless day, these panels generate all the power needed, even in the summer when the air conditioning is going full blast. Sometimes BRVC generates more than they need and the power is then sold to other businesses with a designation that it is renewable energy, which other businesses get tax breaks for using. The solar panels cover about 70% of BRVC’s roof, effectively shading the building during the summer and further reducing their need for power.

 

Over the course of a year, BRVC’s solar system prevents the production of 236,000 pounds of carbon dioxide that would have otherwise been produced by a fossil fuel-burning plant. That reduction in carbon dioxide production is the equivalent of planting 14,100 trees. When BRVC installed their system in 2005, the hospital was awarded membership in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership at the Leadership Level.

 

BRVC also did a retrofit/upgrade to their HVAC (heating/ventilation/air conditioning) units on the roof, by which all the cold water that condenses on them in the summer is re-cycled to re-cool the coolant, further increasing their efficiency. BRVC also has an energy-efficient lighting system.

 

In addition to solar panels, BRVC has a recycling program started by employees. Recycling bin pickups turned out to cost less than garbage pickups, said Dr. Kerr. Profits from recycling are used to benefit the staff.

 

The following tips will help you green your practice.

 

Plant and maintain shade trees. Plant shade trees around your practice now and in the years ahead you may save as much as 60% on your cooling costs. You’ll also save the fossil fuel that would have gone to air conditioning that percentage of your practice.

 

Install energy-saving appliances. When it is time to replace your building’s air conditioner, clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, computers, printers, and fax machines buy Energy Star® models, which offer energy savings of 15-40% compared to older appliances.

 

Check your windows. Check the weather-stripping and caulking around windows and doors. Up to 20 percent of your building’s heat or cooling may be lost through windows. Leave curtains or blinds open during the day to let sunlight in and help heat the building during the winter.

 

Change your light bulbs. Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 1/5 as much energy yet produce the same amount of light and last ten times longer.

 

Turn it off. When not in use, turn off office equipment, such as computers, monitors, printers, copiers, and fax machines. When they function in a stand-by mode, they are still drawing power.

 

Reduce paper use. Print double-sided, re-use paper, and use email instead of printing memos. Have faxes sent directly to your computer.

 

Perform regular maintenance. You recommend to your clients that they bring in their pets for regular checkups, so give your business the same consideration. Have regular checkups performed on your HVAC systems. Change air filters monthly.

 

Schedule an energy audit. Your power company may offer free “energy audits,” in which an inspector comes to your practice and identifies ways you may be wasting the energy you are already buying. Act on their suggestions and you can save money.

 

Go solar. Uncle Sam, California, some cities, and your local energy company may offer tax incentives, subsidies, and rebates for the energy saving measures you take. Check it out!

 

Keeping your veterinary practice green makes a statement about your organization and its values. Going green is also good public relations with your community—Gallup surveys have shown that more than 75% of U.S. consumers include environmentalism in their shopping decisions. Going green can help you differentiate your practice—be sure to mention it in your local advertisements, on your web site, and in your hospital waiting room.