SVMC Named as Efficiency Vermont “Energy Leader”

BENNINGTON, VT— June 27, 2022—Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), has been named as an “Energy Leader” by Efficiency Vermont. The organization honored seven large commercial and industrial customers with the award at the end of last year.

“SVMC’s investment in energy efficiency and commitment to lowering energy use, operational costs, and greenhouse gas emissions is a testament their forward thinking and leadership,” said Dave Adams, senior customer engagement manager at Efficiency Vermont. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to support them with technical advice and incentives.”

SVMC upgraded 50 percent of its control systems to achieve a greater command over ventilation, saving almost 500,000 kWh from the upgrade and building commissioning. SVMC has also taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint, recently completing a comprehensive pipe insulation project and a steam trap audit and repair initiative. These efforts will result in a reduction of almost 575,000 pounds of carbon emissions per year.

“Energy efficiency projects make sense for the environment and from a fiscal perspective,” said Ron Zimmerman, director of Engineering at SVMC. “We are proud to accept this recognition and thank Efficiency Vermont for acknowledging our efforts.”

Efficiency Vermont is collaborating on many projects as the SVMC campus in Bennington undergoes a major expansion and renovation of the Emergency Department, Main Entrance, and Lobby.

“The focus remains on efficiency and related benefits, even with all the critical health-related priorities,” said Adams. “This says a lot about leadership and the long-term view of building a sustainable healthcare community.”

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, healthcare system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC ranked fourth nationwide for the value of care it provides by the Lown Institute Hospital Index in 2020 and is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. The health system is fortunate to have the support of platinum-level corporate sponsor Mack, a leading supplier of contract manufacturing services and injection molded plastic parts based in Arlington, VT.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.

About Efficiency Vermont:

As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last seven consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.