Our Environmental Leadership

Awards & Recognition

At Inova, we strive to develop and implement innovative, exciting environmental sustainability initiatives – and to share our progress with other healthcare leaders. We have continually proven our leadership within the field of healthcare sustainability.

Some of our major accomplishments include:

Becoming a charter member of Virginia Hospitals for a Healthy Environment in 2006
Knox Singleton, CEO Inova Health System invited to speak on Hospital Leadership Panel at CleanMed 2010 Global Healthcare Conference
Hosting a Sustainability in Healthcare conference in 2009 & 2011
Becoming a charter member of the Healthier Hospitals Initiative in 2011

Inova has also received a variety of awards for its environmental sustainability efforts, including:

‘Making Medicine Mercury Free’ awards for all Inova hospitals in 2006
‘Going Green’ award at Elizabeth Hartwell Eagle Festival in 2009
Annual ‘Partner for Change’ awards from Practice Greenhealth for all Inova hospitals, beginning in 2007 – including two ‘Partner for Change with Distinction’ awards in 2010
Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Best Workplaces for Commuters’ award for two Inova hospitals in 2010
Silver-level award the Loudoun County Green Business Challenge in 2010
Finalist in Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Green Business Award in 2010

The Going Green Initiative

Over time, Inova has improved the sustainability of our operations through research, policy development, ongoing education commitments, the implementation of new processes and technologies and working with our local communities. The majority of these efforts have been carried out by Inova’s Environmental Committee, which coordinates behind-the-scenes projects such as lighting retrofits and waste tracking programs.

More recently, Inova’s Going Green Initiative was established to involve Inova’s employees, visitors and community in our sustainability program. Green Teams at each Inova hospital have helped to plan and host a variety of fun, innovative events which continue to receive recognition within the healthcare sustainability community.

• Project Blue Wrap fashion design competition
• CEO Celebrity Chef Cook-Off
• Office Supply Swap
• Remote Control Carpool Race
• Monthly farmer’s markets during the growing season
• Local Food Cook-Off for Inova employees

• Electronic Waste Takeback & Confidential Paper Shred event
• ‘Make Your Own Rain Barrel’ class
• Green Gift Supply Station
• Earth Day Fairs, including tree planting ceremony and tree seedling giveaways
• Going Green Scavenger Hunt
• Bottled vs Tap Water: Taste Test Challenge

See our sustainability timeline