UCI Health maintenance goes electric
Sustainably powered bikes, carts and landscaping tools beautify the Orange campus while keeping the air clean
Orange, Calif. — A commitment to sustainability touches numerous corners at UCI Health, including to the equipment that keeps the grounds and facilities at UCI Medical Center in Orange looking beautiful.
The change from polluting, noisy gas-powered vehicles and equipment to the use of bicycles and all-electric vehicles was driven by the facilities maintenance team at UCI Health.
“Instead of leasing vehicles, our department and grounds crew ride bikes and use electric carts to respond to calls across the campus,” says Tony Dover, energy manager at UCI Health.
So far, 35 bikes and nine electric carts are in operation.
The department has also transitioned more than 25 gas-powered landscaping tools to electric, including riding lawn mowers, trimmers, weed whackers and blowers.
“UCI Health has continued to reduce our carbon emissions year over year,” Dover says. “And it’s activities like these that contribute to that reduction.”
Protecting the community
Joe Brothman, director of general services at UCI Health, says more than 75% of the landscaping inventory has been replaced with battery-powered equipment.
The benefits are many to all involved, he says.
A co-worker at UCI Medical Center in Orange uses a battery-powered hedge trimmer. More than 25 gas-powered landscaping tools have been transferred to electric, including riding lawn mowers, trimmers, weed whackers and blowers.“Moving to electrified grounds equipment not only reduces our carbon emissions, but also eliminates exposing our visitors, patients, and coworkers to harmful emissions, noise and dangerous chemicals. It aligns well with our organization’s goal to make UCI Health the best place to give and get care.”
Brothman emphasized that making the move to electrical devices had a lot to do with the grounds crew members’ adaptability.
“Our ability to transition to electrified grounds equipment is due in large part to our facilities leaders and grounds co-workers’ willingness to adapt to new technology. This transition takes time and extra effort, but they are committed to doing what is best for our patients, visitors, and fellow coworkers.”
Sustainability leader
UCI Health is leading several initiatives that advance its goals to become a sustainable organization.
In 2021, the health system joined Race to Zero, a United Nations-backed initiative, and has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, reporting on its progress annually.
Efforts at UCI Medical Center in Orange have already reduced electricity, natural gas and water usage. Since 2022, there has been a 25% decrease in anesthetic gas use, which accounts for up to half of all hospital emissions.
At UCI Health ― Irvine, now under construction, a state-of-the-art central utilities plant that will deliver clean energy to the entire campus.
Read more
- UCI Health unveils innovative central utilities plant at Irvine campus ›
- Anesthesiology team to 'Green the OR’ with carbon-neutral operating rooms ›
About UCI Health
UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system in Orange County. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, Calif. The 459-bed, acute care hospital, listed among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About UCI Health — Irvine
UCI Health — Irvine, a new medical complex at the north end of the UC Irvine campus, is bringing unparalleled expertise and the finest evidence-based care that only an academic health system can offer to the communities of coastal and south Orange County. As part of UCI Health — which includes the flagship UCI Medical Center in Orange, Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and multiple outpatient care locations — the new 1.2 million-square-foot campus will offer key clinical programs in oncology, digestive health, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and spine surgery. The nation’s first all-electric medical center, UCI Health — Irvine is home to the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care, a five-story, 168,000-square-foot medical facility offering multidisciplinary specialty care for children and adults, urgent care services, the Center for Children’s Health and the UCI Health Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders. The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building, a five-story, 225,000-square-foot structure, opened its doors July 16. Coming in 2025: a seven-story, 350,000-square-foot, acute care hospital and emergency department.