Martha’s Vineyard Hospital wins Gold LEED

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Martha’s Vineyard Hospital was awarded GOLD certification by the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program for meeting the highest standards in environmentally sound building practices.

The new building, which houses all of the hospital’s clinical services, opened in June 2010. The award makes the Island hospital the highest LEED-rated hospital in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to a press release.

Construction of the new hospital began in 2007 following the largest and most successful capital campaign in the Vineyard’s history — exceeding the initial goal of $42 million when the campaign concluded in 2007, having raised nearly $50 million.

“While being green took a little longer than expected, our commitment to this effort was worth the wait,” Timothy J. Walsh, president and CEO, said. “This was truly a team effort with input from not just the design and architectural teams, but also hospital staff and the Island community.”

Green features include: Preferred parking for low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles; bio-retention areas and leaching pits to capture, treat, and control storm water runoff; low-flow faucets and electronic sensors to maximize water efficiency; 200 photo-voltaic panels on the south side roof to turn sunlight into electricity the hospital can use to reduce its electric bill; a roof garden and courtyard garden to connect patients, visitors, and staff with the health benefits of the natural environment.