Cowell Center

Boomerang Catapult Founder Guides Cancer Center to LEED Designation

Traverse City Record Eagle
Traverse City Record Eagle
From Staff Reports
March 27, 2018

The Munson Medical Center Cowell Family Cancer Center has earned LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification acknowledges that the structure meets the resource and energy efficient code criteria that allows it to be signified “green.” The building now has an official LEED certification plaque. Munson Healthcare Vice President of Facilities Steve Tongue said in a release that …

The Munson Medical Center Cowell Family Cancer Center has earned LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The second-floor green roof on the Cowell Family Cancer Center was a factor in the facility's LEED certification.
The second-floor green roof on the Cowell Family Cancer Center was a factor in the facility’s LEED certification.

The certification acknowledges that the structure meets the resource and energy efficient code criteria that allows it to be signified “green.” The building now has an official LEED certification plaque.

Munson Healthcare Vice President of Facilities Steve Tongue said in a release that green efforts at the health system are always a consideration — particularly when it comes to new construction.

Some of the “green” features at the cancer center include: Best management practices to deal with stormwater runoff to protect Kids Creek water quality; a green roof; “smart commuting” elements including covered bike racks, showers, lockers, and a bus stop; and high-efficiency electrical and mechanical systems.

Green efforts at the cancer center site began before construction with work to restore Kids Creek through collaboration with the Watershed Center and Grand Traverse Conservation. In 2016, Munson Medical Center also installed a 3,900-square-foot green roof that uses succulent plants as another measure to reduce runoff into the creek.

At other facilities across Munson’s organization, recent green efforts include:

-An energy project at Manistee Hospital including a new boiler plant, water conservation measures and lighting upgrades. The project resulted in an annual energy cost savings of more than $100,000 a year.

-At Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort, staff voted to pay 25 cents more for take-out items to be packaged in compostable containers made from corn.

-Throughout the system, facility managers have implemented a specific purple container disposal program for pharmaceuticals, which ensures that active substances are disposed of properly and do not enter the environment and contaminate water and soil.

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