Since its inception, Park City Medical Center was designed with the environment in mind. Long before the first patient was seen, hospital leaders were committed to minimizing the building’s impact on the natural environment. Using locally sourced stone and wood, recycled carpet and tile, and low-water use plants for the landscaping were just the beginning.
In 2014 the hospital broke ground on an 82,000-square-foot addition, and pledged to design a LEED Certified building. As part of this commitment, the new building features 270 solar panels on the roof. Administrator Si Hutt says going solar was the right thing to do — both for patients and for the planet.
“Solar is not only a clean energy, it’s nature’s most inexhaustible resource. As citizens of this community, and of this planet, we felt a strong social responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Hutt. “In addition, using solar energy provides a more predictable utility expense, improving our ability to budget accurately.”
Hutt noted that longtime Park City resident and environmental activist, Hank Louis, made a significant donation to the hospital in order the cover the upfront cost of the solar panels, and that savings will go directly to patient care.
For Louis, backing this project was a natural fit. “Having spent considerable time as a patient at Park City Medical Center, I felt compelled to give back and wanted a project that suited my personal commitments to the environment, too. Park City Medical Center is a vital member of our wildly growing community, and I wanted to have a positive role in its expansion.”
Each of the hospital’s solar panels generates 320 watts of power at peak performance, which is about 86.4 kilowatts per hour. Park City Medical Center expects to save about $8,000 each year on its energy bills.
The hospital’s LEED Certified expansion project is scheduled for completion this winter and features a number of other environmentally friendly initiatives, including dedicated open space, the use of rapidly renewable commercial linoleum and environmentally friendly adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings.