Nov. 19, 2008

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HEALTH INSTITUTION GOES GREEN TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT

Montefiore Medical<= /st1:PlaceName> Center has responde= d to County Executive Andy Spano’s call for businesses to do their part to stop global warming – and on Thursday he will join employees and hosp= ital officials as they kick off their effort.

The medica= l center has challenged its employees at the South Westchester Executive Park Yonker= s location to carpool or take public transit for 12 weeks, beginning Nov. 24. About 70 are expected to participat= e.

A kick off rally will take place T= hursday at 100 Corporate Blvd., Conference Room 111A & 111B, Yonkers, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Spano will join Montefiore Vice Pre= sident Steve Rosenthal to launch the “Go Green” effort at 10 a.m.

“I c= ommend Montefiore for this effort to get its employees to be part of the grassroots effort to reduce our carbon footprint. Every one of us must do our part,= 221; said Spano, who earlier this year released a comprehensive Global Warming Action plan for Westchester that involve= s all sectors: individuals, businesses, schools, governments, non profits.

Commented = Rosenthal, “We are excited to be a leader in this effort to reduce our carbon foot-print, and the commute challenge enhances our other ongoing ‘Go Green’ agenda.

The commute challenge calls for employees to agree to “go green” in their commute at least two days a week for 12 weeks. Green commute means using pu= blic transit, carpooling, vanpooling, biking or walking.

Montefiore= is the first business to take up the challenge&nb= sp; guided by Westches= ter County’s SMART COMMUTE Program. Others are expected to join up as the program is brought to other work sites.

At the end= of the challenge, Montefiore hospital will be able to capture the total vehicle mi= les reduced as well as the carbon emission saved by this effort.

The hospital’s employee population at the Yonkers location is expected to increas= e to over 1,000 by early 2009, and the county’s Bee-Line is looking at way= s to improve transit connection to this high density worksite.

The county= ’s Global Warming Action Plan available at www.westchestergov.com= /globalwarming details what Westchester institutions and residents can do to meet the worldwide challenge of climate change.