Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton has been recognized for how well it cares for the environment.

NGMC Braselton is the first hospital in the state, and among the first 10 in the nation, to receive Gold Certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for health care rating system. The hospital was cited for several actions:

• Reducing energy use by 35 percent and water use by 33 percent compared to similar hospitals

• Implementing geothermal wells to heat and cool

• Reducing the building’s carbon footprint by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and use of fossil fuels

• Using LED lighting and Energy Star-rated appliances and equipment to reduce energy consumption

• Repurposing rainwater and using nondrinkable water for landscape irrigation

• Recycling 92 percent of waste during construction, diverting more than 6.5 million pounds of waste from landfills

• Avoiding use of products that contain toxic chemicals on the EPA’s “red list”

• Choosing furniture, flooring and other products with recycled content that comply with strict air quality standards

For more information about NGMC Braselton visit www.nghs.com/braselton.