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Watch VideoColorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo goes green
Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA
Some major energy-saving changes are taking place at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo. The entire campus is going green, as part of an executive order from Governor Bill Ritter last spring. The governor directed all state agencies to reduce the use of energy consumption.
On Wednesday workers at CMHIP kicked off their going green campaign. Some changes are as simple as flipping a switch. "(We're) putting stickers on all the light switches all the light plates that ask to turn off the light when you leave a room," said Cindy Cox, who is the chair of the hospital's conservation committee.
Over the next five years, their goal is to reduce energy and paper use by 20-percent;
Water consumption by 10-percent; and fuel use by 25-percent.
"If they're going to Denver for a meeting or if they're going somewhere for a meeting to try and carpool together," said Cox.
Currently the State Hospital uses enough electricity to power 1,800 homes a year.
So, another change includes switching to all energy efficient light bulbs. "I think they're going to be very receptive. It's amazing how many individuals have wanted to be on this committee because they feel conserving and ecology and all that is very very important," said Cox.
As they go green, workers also want to get fit. For a second year, they've started a company weight-loss club modeled after NBC's The Biggest Loser. "Last year was our kickoff biggest loser here and we had 246 participate. They lost a total of 813 pounds. And even though they maybe didn't lose weight, we had a few people stop smoking," said Lynn Brown, chair of the hospital's wellness committee.
The entire campus will go tobacco free starting July 1 as part of another health initiative. "And I think most patients and most employees are going to go right along with the game plan," said Cox.
CMHIP hopes to meet all of its energy-saving goals by 2012.
