Some of the most exciting elements in the plans for the new hospital are the features that will take care of the environment as well as the patients—ideas for sustainable power, landscaping, and more.
Recently, on a beautiful October evening, guests invited to the home of Yongkeun Joh and his wife, Sunny, listened intently to Ralph Izzo, Chairman and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG); David Crane, President and CEO of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 power-generation company; and Barry S. Rabner, President and CEO of Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS), discuss eco-friendly development and its application at the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.
Kim Pimley, Chairman, PHCS Foundation Board of Directors, moderated the talk-show-style panel. The panelists defined environmentally sustainable development as adjusting economic decisions to take environmental impact into consideration. At the heart of such measures at the new hospital are the energy features—a co-generation power plant, with emergency backup, and a solar panel “grove” above the parking area. Owing to the progressive thinking and financial support of PSEG, and an arrangement with NRG Energy, the new hospital’s energy costs will be reduced by as much as 25%, and the carbon emissions by 25%, said Mr. Rabner.
“Our partnerships with these two companies are meaningful because PHCS is able to take advantage of solutions for reducing our energy costs,” he commented.
NRG is making a $34 million investment in a co-generation plant on the site. Mr. Crane explained, “Heat is a by-product of the creation of electricity. We will capture that heat and direct it under what is essentially a large ‘tea kettle.’ The steam that is produced will be pumped through the building’s heating system. This method of using one power source to create two types of energy is just one example of efficient energy design being incorporated into the new facility.”
PSEG has awarded a $7 million incentive package to the Foundation to support some of the approximately $60 million in green initiatives planned for the new hospital. “When we ask customers what we can do for them, the overwhelming response is to reduce rates. The second most common response is for us to use more renewable energy,” explained Mr. Izzo. “We are proud that PSEG was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index this year and for the third time to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index.”
An animated question-and-answer session showed the audience’s enthusiasm for the subject—and the setting highlighted the hosts’ environmental interests, as well. The Joh’s home has geothermal heating and an array of solar panels on the roof. Their business, Advanced Food Systems, located in Somerset, NJ, derives 50% of its energy needs from solar power. Mr. Joh, a member of the PHCS Foundation Board of Directors, was pleased to provide a tour of his energy-efficient home after the discussion.
The panel’s three CEOs were passionate about their stewardship role in the region’s future. As Mr. Crane eloquently stated, “We are making decisions now on what type of power we will be using 40 to 60 years from now.”
Pictured above (far left): Panelists Ralph Izzo, Chairman and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG); Barry S. Rabner, President and CEO of Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS); and David Crane, President and CEO of NRG Energy, Inc. (Far right): Hosts Sunny (left) and Yongkeun Joh, a member of the PHCS Foundation Board of Directors.
Click here for more information on the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.
Article as seen in Foundation News Winter 2010.