The Radiological Society of North
America is known for hosting
the largest international medical
meeting in the world, with attendance last year that exceeded
62,000. The same sharply honed organizational skills that go into planning an
annual meeting of that size also are driving RSNA’s initiative to spread environmental awareness throughout all levels
of the organization.
“We needed to get with the times,”
says RSNA Administration and Human
Resources Director Mark Lichtenberger.
“We were actually doing a lot of green
things, but had never really put it out
there.”
RSNA Building Manager Michael
Zawaski, who oversees many of the “Going
Green” efforts, is quick to agree. “We
want to be a leader, show environmental
stewardship and help the cause,” he says.
GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP
RSNA’s origins as a green organization date
back to the construction of its Oak Brook
headquarters in 1996. One of the architects was LEED-certified (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design), meaning he is considered an expert in the field
by the U.S. Green Building Council. As
a result, the new building was designed
with such environmentally friendly features as erosion and sediment control,
public transportation access, storm water
management, light pollution reduction
and minimum energy performance.
HIGHLIGHTS OF RSNA’S GOING
GREEN CAMPAIGN
Here are details about just a few of
RSNA’s environmental initiatives. For more
information, contact Michael Zawaski at
mzawaski@rsna.org.
• Erosion and Sediment Control
Mulching, use of sediment and triple
oil basins, pond vegetation
• Green Site
Storm water management, minimal use
of fertilizers, mulching mowers, building
exterior cleaning, good variety of landscape plants, using plants to reduce
heat loads, no pesticides used, creating
wildlife habitat
• Reduced Site Disturbance
Approximately 50 percent of site contains
landscaping to promote biodiversity
• Building Commissioning
Verification that all fundamental building systems are performing as intended,
including heating, cooling, humidification, lighting, safety and building
automation controls
• Recyling
All building tenants participate in collection of paper, cardboard and aluminum
• Lighting
Building uses GE Ecolux lamps,
reducing by 80 percent the amount
of mercury contained in traditional
fluorescent lamps
• Use of Alternative Materials
RSNA construction projects use extensive amounts of medium density fiber
board (MDF), a wood product made from
recycled wood fibers
• Use of IAQ-Compliant Products
Impact of construction materials on
indoor air quality is reduced by insisting contractors comply with South
Coast Air Quality Management District
on adhesives and sealants, Green
Seal’s standards on paints and coatings and Carpet and Rug Institute’s
requirements for carpets and cushions
• Sustainable Cleaning Products
RSNA’s cleaning company uses Green
Seal Certified bathroom cleaner, scale
remover, glass cleaner, multi-surface
cleaner and floor stripper
• Controllability of Systems: Temperature
and Ventilation
HVAC automation system allows users
good individual control of temperature
and ventilation while maintaining efficient energy characteristics
• Employee Workstations/Offices
Each employee has a lined wastebasket for garbage and a recycle container
for paper (paper of all colors, magazines and newspaper) and cardboard
products
• Copy Centers
Each copy center has a large recycle
container for paper (paper of all colors,
magazines and newspapers) and cardboard products
• Pantries
Each pantry has a large recycle container for commingled products (glass,
aluminum cans, plastic cups and
plastic bottles)
