{"id":73,"date":"2020-10-02T19:39:16","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T19:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/?post_type=location&p=73"},"modified":"2021-12-10T20:40:35","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T20:40:35","slug":"uc-irvine-health","status":"publish","type":"location","link":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2021\/locations\/uc-irvine-health\/","title":{"rendered":"UC Irvine Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite the continued challenges of the pandemic, in 2020\u201321 UC Irvine Health made great strides toward embedding environmental sustainability in its health care operations. The health system launched a Greening the Operating Room (OR) Initiative and identified opportunities for reducing energy use, supply costs and waste generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Anesthesiology established the multidisciplinary Perioperative Conservation and Sustainability Committee and facilitated educational events connecting climate change and health. The department reduced the environmental impacts of surgery by eliminating the use of desflurane (an anesthetic gas with the highest global warming potential) and minimizing the use of nitrous oxide. The department reduced emissions from the use of desflurane from 327 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019 down to zero tons in fiscal year 2020\u201321.<\/p>\n\n\n

Read More about Sustainability at UC Irvine Health<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

Although COVID-19 created challenges for implementing waste diversion strategies, UC Irvine Health met its 50% diversion rate goal, developed an organic pre-consumer food-waste-to-animal-feed program and eliminated single-use plastics (e.g., straws, bags and cups) and all plastic foam in dining services. Dining Services also rolled out a plant-forward menu program that reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its food purchases. In fiscal year 2020\u201321, the health system spent $981,909 (or 23% of its total spend) on plant-based menu offerings and increased spending on sustainable food to over 30% of the overall total. The health system continues to implement water conservation initiatives, which have reduced water consumption 40% from the baseline, and is projected to maintain a water usage rate that achieves the 36% reduction goal in 2025. UC Irvine Health\u2019s Energy Use Intensity has continued to drop for the past three years; however, it achieved only a 1.64% reduction, falling just short of the 2% annual target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustainability at UC Irvine Health<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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UC Irvine Health is Engaging with Local Communities on Climate Resilience Planning<\/a><\/h3>\n

More and more, devastating fires, increasing power outages and unpredictable natural disasters are having impacts on the UC community, often with disproportionate impacts on marginalized groups. As part of a systemwide climate resilience initiative, UC Irvine Health embarked on a project that engaged internal and external stakeholders to come together and develop a collective vision for climate resiliency planning and address the needs of the most vulnerable during catastrophic events. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n