June 9, 2026
For the eleventh consecutive year, The Valley Hospital has received national accolades for its achievements and innovation in healthcare sustainability from Practice Greenhealth.
The Valley Hospital received the Greenhealth Champion Award, which recognizes the organization’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its environmental performance and integrating sustainability into its operations and culture.
Valley also received the Circle of Excellence Award for “greening the operating room.” According to Practice Greenhealth, the Circles of Excellence award honors up to ten of the highest-performing hospitals in categories of environmental performance, including leadership, waste, chemicals, greening the operating room, food, environmentally preferable purchasing, energy, water, climate, and green building.
Practice Greenhealth describes itself as the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for sustainable healthcare, delivering environmental solutions to hospitals and health systems across the United States and Canada.
“Sustainability is an integral aspect of Valley’s commitment to improving health and well-being,” said Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Health System. “We are proud to be recognized for our efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and create a healthier future for our patients, employees, and the communities we serve.”
The Valley Hospital, located in Paramus, New Jersey, is operated and maintained using environmentally friendly principles, with more than 30% of the hospital campus dedicated to open green space. The hospital has two green roofs, which involve growing plants on the facility rooftops. Green roofs have numerous benefits, including reducing stormwater runoff, improving energy efficiency, and improving the overall look of the hospital for patients and neighbors.
The hospital also features a cogeneration plant, which produces 30-40% of its power, depending on the season. The plant feeds power to a primary switch gear, which powers the building. This produces electrical energy, as well as heat, from the plant that would have otherwise been unused. The plant allows the hospital to produce its own steam, hot water, and air conditioning, while reducing Valley’s carbon footprint.
“The healthcare sector is claiming its role as a guardian of public health by refusing to contribute to the problem. Sustainability isn't a side project – it’s a core business strategy that drives resilience, saves money, and, most importantly, fulfills our mission to heal,” said Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth CEO Emily Bancroft. “The healthcare system of the future – one that heals both the patient and the planet – is being built right here, by The Valley Hospital.”
For more information about The Valley Hospital, please visit ValleyHealth.com.