Green Clinic Cares for Women and the Earth
Preterm has been recognized with a Green Building of America Award for all its efforts in making its existing building in Cleveland on Shaker Blvd. more energy efficient and adopting other sustainability practices.
In 2008 Preterm, a nonprofit abortion clinic on Cleveland's East Side, set out to become a LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy & Design for Existing Buildings) certified healthcare clinic, putting it on track to be the first such facility in Ohio. At the time administrators, board, and staff had no idea how much it would stretch their resources and imaginations. After a year and a half of intensive effort, Preterm has been recognized with a Green Building of America Award.
There are signs of transformation throughout Preterm's 22,000-square-foot building, including an energy-efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC) and a reflective roof, with plans to add a patio and movable garden beds. Waiting rooms have recycled carpet tiles, and bathrooms feature dual flush toilets and sensor or aerated faucets. The space's abundant daylight reduces electricity needs, and the clinic hopes to install solar awnings on south and east facing windows. Recycling stations with information about environmental and reproductive health feature unique bins made from salvaged building materials by APOC—A Piece of Cleveland.
Other changes are less tangible but just as profound. Preterm has developed wide-ranging policies for sustainable operations, including purchasing, cleaning, maintenance, integrated pest management and recycling. Every staff meeting includes a green discussion or exercise and periodic contests encourage innovative green ideas. And Preterm has become an outspoken advocate of green buildings and operations, leading workshops at the 2008 Great Lakes Bioneers Conference and at two national conferences of abortion providers, in the hopes of encouraging other organizations to consider greener alternatives.
Preterm has a long tradition of environmental consciousness rooted in concern for women's health and welfare. In the early 90s, they refurbished a derelict building on Shaker Boulevard, using some of the best green technologies of the time. They included fluorescent lighting, retractable awnings with sunlight sensors, and low-maintenance landscaping. They switched to more sustainable practices, too, using cloth napkins and putting a worm farm in the staff lounge.
"When our building needed major system replacements, making it green just seemed like the right thing to do," said Preterm executive director Chrisse France.
A failing HVAC system pushed France and her board to commit to becoming certified for environmental sustainability. They knew this would mean cleaner air and less harmful chemicals inside the clinic, as well as money-saving efficiency. The change would also be good for Preterm's neighbors and the entire planet because a green building conserves resources and produces less waste and pollution.
With the help of Atlas Architectural Services and grants from the George Gund Foundation and the Kresge Foundation, the Preterm team spent a year planning the transformation. The result is a three-year $1.5 million initiative called "Act Boldly, Live Gently." Despite the challenge of finding funders and contractors comfortable with Preterm's mission, Preterm plans to become LEED-EB certified at the silver level or higher by next summer.
"We live and breathe this project, and we'll talk about it to anyone who will listen," said France. "We want to treat the environment with the same care that we treat our patients. If we can inspire someone else to take just one small step in treating the earth more gently, whether it's an employee, a patient, supporter or another organization, we'll feel like we've contributed to a better world."