Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center has been recognized by both the State of Ohio and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for efforts in protecting the environment.

St. Rita’s was awarded the Ohio EPA’s 2018 Achievement Level for Encouraging Environmental Excellence. The award recognizes the medical center as a participant in the program and for completing environmentally beneficial activities including energy efficiency, recycling and resuse, mercury reduction, environmental preferable purchasing programs, medical waste reduction and water conservation.

Also, St. Rita’s was recognized by the U.S. EPA as an Energy Star recipient for 2018. Buildings that earn EPA’s Energy Star use 35 percent less energy and generate 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar buildings across the nation.

“As a leading employer in the Lima community, St. Rita’s is not only responsible for the care of our patients but also for the wellbeing of our employees and community, including our environment,” said Dale Gisi, president, Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center. “This is a responsibility we take seriously and we will continue to makes strides in this area.”

St. Rita’s efforts include the addition of boiler economizers to improve efficiency by more than 6 percent saving more than $30,000 in natural gas per year; switching parking lights to LED lights to use 64 percent less energy; and repurposing medical equipment and single use items as well as donating furniture that is no longer needed and food to local shelters. Additionally, the St. Rita’s team uses cleaning products that are nearly entirely environmentally friendly to help reduce the chemicals that go into environment.