It’s not always easy being green — but Resolute Health is being recognized for achieving just that.

Resolute Health hospital has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification is given to organizations whose buildings are proven to be environmentally-conscious.

The designation makes Resolute Health hospital the largest inpatient hospital in Texas certified within the LEED v3 New Construction rating system.

Lynn Falcone, Resolute Health COO, said since the inception of the hospital, there was a clear plan to ensure the facility would be as environmentally-friendly as possible.

“Resolute Health isn’t just about providing great hospital care — we’re about seeing long-lasting health improvements in the community,” she said. “And a key component of our focus is ensuring the surrounding environment itself sees the least impact from our presence.”

Eric Sheffer of Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. — a sustainability consultant for the hospital — said the facility is designed to save $450,000 annually in energy costs, when compared to a standard facility design.

“From the inception of the Resolute Hospital, sustainability, the patient experience, and return on investment were key criteria considered within the LEED certification pursuit,” Sheffer said. “Throughout construction, waste was diverted from landfills and was recycled wherever possible, resulting in more than 3.5 million pounds of recycled construction waste.”

Sheffer added that water conservation is “a preeminent issue in Texas,” and this hospital was designed to save more than 4.1 million gallons of water annually, based on efficient fixtures, landscaping, and water reuse.

The facility is constructed of materials containing recycled content, and 30 percent of materials were supplied by local or regional sources.

The interior components of the hospital were specified to promote indoor air quality, including low or no volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, adhesives, flooring and composite wood products.

The design team was lead by Earl Swensson Associates, Inc, and the construction team was lead by Brasfield and Gorrie.

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Article was published on December 14, 2014 by the New Braunfels Herald Zeitung.

 

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