DaVita Joins EPA Green Power Partnership

On May 12, 2009 DaVita, a large provider of dialysis services, announced that it is the first Fortune 500 health care services company to join the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Green Power Partnership. Through the use of renewable wind energy, the company will offset 10 million kilowatts of energy.

 

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that supports the use of green power (renewable energy as opposed to fossil fuels) through offering technical support, expert advice, tools and resources.  Through its cooperation with EPA, DaVita will be able to save enough energy to power 1,000 homes.

 

DaVita has made major efforts in the past to conserve energy – one of the most notable being the electronic signing of orders and rounding sheets, saving around 3 million sheets of paper, and more recently e-prescribing.  In 2007 they developed “DaVita Village Green” and have focused on environmentally thoughtful purchasing, extensive use of e-mail, recycling of paper, as well as dialyzers and conservation of resources.  Their reduction in the routine printing of data in their data centers is expected to save 20 million pieces of paper. Overall, their efforts will probably save around 3,000 trees per year.

 

DaVita stands in good company with its initiative; the Empire State Building just announced an effort to cut energy use by 38%, launching a 20 million dollar project. It is estimated that buildings use 40% of all energy consumed – and this is worldwide!!

 

This is quite belated for Thomas Edison, who in 1931 – the year the Empire State Building was completed, reportedly stated “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that."

Disclaimer: Dr. Fadem is a DaVita Medical Director and Joint Venture Partner