Highmark Blue Shield News
Highmark Blue Shield Announces Sustainable, Eco-Friendly and Green Strategy
SEG projects at Highmark include a variety of facility management, community and business projects that will help to create a healthier work environment for employees and for the communities where Highmark does business.
In
"By educating employees about what they personally can do to help the environment at the office and at home, we can equip them with the tools to make informed decisions, leading to better personal and community health and economic benefits," said
SEG initiatives at
Highmark uses a comprehensive program that strives to improve process, reduce costs and waste, and increase or exceed customer expectations.
Highmark is currently undergoing multi-year renovations to its 612,000-square-foot Center Street campus in
Replacement and upgrading of air conditioning systems with new, more efficient equipment has produced a 20 percent reduction in electric consumption and an average savings of
Demolition materials are being handled in an environmentally friendly way by separating material types, such as metals and plastics to be recycled. In addition, the landscaping is being renovated to include native plantings, and the sidewalks are made with pavers that feature crushed recycled bottles.
Additional SEG projects at Highmark Blue Shield — Highmark provides its members with the option of receiving EOBs and member newsletters through online e-delivery. This technology allows members to view their EOBs online and receive newsletters electronically, therefore saving the resources of paper and postage. For members who opt to receive EOBs through the mail, Highmark prints content on both sides of paper to reduce overall resources used. — Highmark operates a Silver LEED certified Data Center in Hershey, Pa. The Data Center, which provides computing infrastructure for the company, opened in November 2005 and was built using environmentally friendly attributes. These features include storm water management, erosion and sedimentation control, optimized energy performance, water recycling and more. — Approximately 85,000 pounds of paper and 7,000 pounds of cardboard are recycled each month in its Camp Hill facilities. Highmark's recycling efforts help East Pennsboro Township meet their recycling goals and obtain grant money. — Highmark uses environmentally friendly, green cleaning products at its facilities at its Data Center in and at its Center Street campus. These products include Green Seal certified cleaners, vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to improve indoor air quality and Green Seal certified paper products for restrooms. — Highmark, through its partner Parkhurst Dining Services, is making dining facilities in Camp Hill more sustainable and eco-friendly. Current Parkhurst initiatives include napkins made from recycled paper; a FarmSource program that purchases goods from local farms; and the collection of used fryer oil to be converted to bio-diesel.
Next steps for Highmark Blue Shield include additional renovations throughout its Center Street facility and outside landscaping changes which include planting native and drought resistant plants and trees. The company is also developing metrics to benchmark major resources, such as the use of paper, water and electricity, and then target ways to conserve those resources.
For more information about Highmark's SEG initiative, please visit the Newsroom on http://www.highmark.com and read the Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, and Green press kit.
About Highmark Blue Shield
As one of the state's leading health insurers and with nearly 70 years of community involvement, Highmark Blue Shield helps members live longer, healthier lives by ensuring access to affordable, high quality health insurance and services. Highmark offers the widest range of products, access to all area hospitals and the most responsive customer service. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout
SOURCE Highmark Blue Shield
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