In today's episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna speaks with Kyle Tafuri, Vice President of Sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health, about the organization’s ambitious sustainability initiatives. Kyle shares perspectives on balancing long-term environmental goals with the immediate challenges of operating a healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships, incremental progress, and innovative solutions like offsite solar, carbon capture, and geothermal energy. He also discusses Hackensack Meridian Health’s proactive approach to supply chain sustainability, energy efficiency, and patient-centered environmental strategies.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• The challenges of incorporating sustainability into healthcare operations (02:04 )


• Implementing key energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives (06:24 )


• How Hackensack measures its sustainability success (09:50 )


• Balancing long-term sustainability goals with practical progress (14:50 )


• How Hackensack is expanding sustainability efforts (18:39 )

For detailed show notes, click here.

Connect with Kyle Tafuri

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Kyle Tafuri, Vice President of Sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health, is not just a leader in healthcare sustainability – he's a visionary. For over a decade, Kyle has been instrumental in weaving sustainability into the very fabric of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), transforming the health system into an industry leader in environmental responsibility.

Under Kyle's leadership, HMH and its hospitals were the first in the country to receive the Joint Commission Sustainability Certification. The flagship hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, has been recognized as one of the top 25 green hospitals by Practice Greenhealth for nine consecutive years. All of HMH’s hospitals are in the process of implementing 30 MW of on-site solar and battery storage, which is the most of any health system in the U.S. His dedication to green building, sustainable food practices, waste reduction, and responsible purchasing has set a new standard for healthcare institutions nationwide.

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