Gundersen Lutheran Envision®
Energizing Healthcare
Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference
November 30th, 2011
Jeff Rich, Executive Director – GL Envision, LLC
• Physician-led Integrated Delivery System
• Headquartered in La Crosse, WI
• Approximately 6,500 total employees
• 475 employed physicians
• 300 employed mid-level
• 325-bed tertiary medical center
• Level II trauma center
• 41 clinic locations
• Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation
•Residency and medical education programs
•Clinical research program
• Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan
• Provider-owned and -operated health insurance company
• A variety of affiliate organizations including EMS ambulance
service, rural hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, etc.
Who We Are
Our Service Area
Program Objectives
1. Energy Independence by 2014 - Produce more power than
Gundersen Lutheran consumes from fossil fuel sources
2. Make healthcare more affordable to our patients by hedging
future cost of energy through energy production
3. Distinguish Gundersen Lutheran and our community as a
national leader in energy conservation and the development
of renewable energy sources.
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Why Should a Healthcare System
Consider Energy/Environment?
• Pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels cause:
– Cancer, liver disease, kidney disease,
reproductive issues
– Cardiovascular deaths and stroke1
• According to the Department of Energy, hospitals
are 2.5 times more energy intensive than other
commercial buildings2
– This is inconsistent with our mission… we are responsible for
contributing to disease through our wasteful consumption.
• Energy costs continue to escalate, making it more difficult
to provide affordable care
• Reducing waste results in an improved bottom line
2Source: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7363.htm
1Source: American Heart Association Scientific Statement: DALLAS, May 10, 2010
Our Envision® Program
• Energy Management
– Energy Efficiency
– Renewable Energy
• Waste Management and Control
• Recycling
• Sustainable Design of New Facilities
Gundersen Lutheran’s Vision for Energy and Environmental Stewardship 6
Conservation
Gundersen Lutheran is saving $1.25M annually from reduced energy use!
In 2008 Gundersen Lutheran launched an
aggressive energy conservation effort which
examined heating and cooling systems, lighting
systems and employee behavior to identify
opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
Dozens of Energy Conservation Measures
(ECMs) were then implemented.
Energy Status
Solar Photovoltaic Project
• La Crosse campus underground parking garage
– Supplies majority of lighting power (75,000 kWh) for garage
– First LEED certified parking garage in U.S.
– Installed in July 2008
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City Brewery CHP Project
• Waste water biogas project generating electricity and heat
– Partnered with City Brewery 4 blocks from Medical Center
– (2,000,000 kWh)…~2% of total goal
– Started production in October 2009
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Solar Hot Water Project
• On-site day care center in La Crosse
– Supplies 85% of hot water needs
– Educational example for children and community
– Installed in April 2010
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Onalaska Campus Landfill Gas Project
• Landfill gas project on Onalaska, WI campus
– Partnered with La Crosse County Solid Waste Department
– Project will offset 100% of Onalaska campus energy needs
– (8,500,000 kWh + 12,000 MMBtu of gas)…~11% of total goal
– Targeted production for February 2012
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Onalaska Landfill Gas Project
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Lewiston, MN Wind Project
• GL Wind 4.95 MW Lewiston, MN project
– Project will produce 15,000,000 kWh …~7% of total energy independence goal
– Targeted production for December 2011
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Lewiston, MN Wind Project
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Cashton, WI Wind Project
• 4.995 MW Wind project
– Partnered with Organic Valley
– Project will produce 12,000,000 kWh and achieve ~5% of total goal*
– Targeted production for April 2012
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Biomass Boiler Project 2012 Implementation
• Biomass Boiler
– 38% of energy independence goal (~150,000 MMBtu and 2,500,000 kWh)
– Will produce the majority of heat / steam used by the health system
– On-site electricity production with back pressure steam turbines
– Targeted production for October 2012
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Dairy Digester Project 2012 – 2013 Implementation
• Dairy manure digester
– Project will produce 11,000,000 kWh annually and achieve 9% of goal
– Fiber byproduct enhances revenue stream and removes phosphorous from
groundwater
– Still under partnership negotiations
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Envision®
www.gundluth.org/green