Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance has been awarded LEED® certification for environmental design by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design program that recognizes the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
The 58-bed, full-service hospital opened in September 2012, adding more than 400 new jobs to the community, and offering a high level of technology within an environment that incorporates nature in with large, energy efficient windows, décor accents of natural wood and stone, and nature-themed art, much of it from local artists. The centerpiece of the hospital is a beautifully landscaped outdoor courtyard that features a labyrinth, designed to promote peaceful meditation for patients and employees.
“When we built Texas Health Alliance we spent a lot of time and effort thinking through each design decision and its impact on the community,” said Winjie Tang Miao, hospital president. “For us, being LEED certified is not just a plaque on the wall. The construction phase may now be over, but we are still focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling and minimizing waste, which benefits our community as a whole, thus creating a healthier environment.”
During the construction phase of the project, hospital leadership worked with the design team to incorporate the latest in energy efficient technology and environmentally-friendly products.
The biggest energy savings at the hospital comes from using a 150-ton heat pump chiller to heat water. The heat pump chiller absorbs free heat from the air and transfers it to the water, making the heating process efficient, ecological, and cost-effective. Because of the heat pump chiller, the hospital was able to offset the gas needed to provide the heating supply and saved 19 percent in energy costs.
Other design elements include using light colored roofing, certified wood in the interior, recycling and minimizing waste while constructing the hospital and reducing water usage in the hospital.
The hospital also uses its interactive patient touchscreens to help control heating and cooling costs. Upon admission, room temperatures are set at a default level, which the patient can raise and lower as needed from the comfort and safety of their bed. The automatic return to the default temperature upon discharge has been proven to save the hospital in utility costs, which can now be reallocated to other patient services.
“Hospitals never close and are always using energy, so I am very proud of the steps that we have taken to reduce our environmental impact,” said Ron Braswell, facilities development senior project manager, who worked on the certification. “What we have achieved at Texas Health Alliance is very special; we have been able to embrace a natural, healing environment that incorporates the natural beauty of our landscape, which is also energy efficient and offers patients a high level of technology.”
To find out more about Texas Health Alliance, visit www.TexasHealth.org/Alliance.
About Texas Health Alliance
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance is a 58-bed, multi-service hospital offering acute care and wellness programs to communities in North Fort Worth, Keller, North Richland Hills, Haslet, and the surrounding areas. The hospital’s services include emergency medicine, women and infant services, neonatal intensive care, imaging, physical therapy, surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational health, and wellness programs. Texas Health Alliance is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org/Alliance.
About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.
For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.
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Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.