Breathe easy. You're in a healthy, sustainable building.
Environmental sustainability is an important part of the MaineHealth commitment to improving the health of the communities we are privileged to serve. As part of our strategic plan, we are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2027 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Green Building at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland (MHMMCP)
At MHMMCP, we aim to achieve a healthy balance between the environmental, social and economic aspects of construction. This “green building” philosophy guides the choices we make while planning, designing and constructing new patient care facilities. Careful consideration is given to the:
- Impact of the building on its immediate neighborhood
- Health of the indoor environment for patients and care team members
- Sustainability of the building in relation to our planet’s climate
We also strive for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for our campus modernization projects. LEED is the world's most widely used green building rating system and provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. Learn more about LEED.
Sustainability Achievements and Awards
Hospitals, at their core, are places to heal and be well. For patients, visitors, care team members and the surrounding community the Coulombe Family Tower supports our goals of human well-being and long-term environmental sustainability. Specifically designed for LEED Silver Certification, the Coulombe Family Tower features healthy construction materials and green building strategies to:
- Improve the patient and care team experience
- Reduce energy consumption and environmental impact
The design team used computer simulations to understand the energy implications of the proposed building plan. The result is a facility that uses 12% less energy than local building code. The team also studied how different window types affected insulation, acoustical performance and views. Now, large windows in every patient room provide plenty of daylight and stunning views, elements that have been linked to faster recovery times. Other building features include:
- Private, welcoming space dedicated to medical and surgical oncology services
- 64 private “universal” inpatient rooms
- Two helipads on top of building with fast, direct elevator access to the MMC emergency department
- High efficiency plumbing fixtures to reduce water demand
- Mechanical systems designed for comfort and efficiency
- Reduced energy demand across all systems, lowering MHMMCP’s carbon footprint
- Healthy building material choices focused on human health
- Construction waste managed for recycling and landfill diversion
- Enhanced commissioning to ensure building envelope and MEP systems meet or exceed performance goals
- Environmental design for indoor air quality, thermal comfort, daylight, views and acoustics
- LEED innovation credits in ergonomics, transportation demand management, social equity and education
Modern cardiovascular care requires advanced technology and high energy demands. At MHMMCP, our goal is to provide healthy clinical care space that allows cardiovascular patients and care team members to focus on the most important task at hand, healing.
Completed in 2024, the Malone Family Tower is a state-of-the-art cardiovascular care facility that features environmentally responsible designs, materials and mechanical operations.
This 291,000-square-foot structure provides 96 new beds and 19 new procedure rooms. A "universal room" concept offers flexibility and reduces the need for future renovations. Additional features include:
- Stormwater design to reduce flow and provides separate storm and sanitary sewer outflows
- High efficiency fixtures to reduce water demand
- Mechanical systems designed for comfort, efficiency and high indoor air quality
- Reduced energy demand across all systems, lowering MHMMCP’s carbon footprint
- Enhanced commissioning to ensure building envelope and MEP systems meet or exceed performance goals
- Material selections focused on human health
- Construction waste managed for recycling and landfill diversion
- Designed for thermal comfort, daylight, views and acoustics
- Pursuing innovation credits in ergonomics, transportation demand management and social equity
- Improved ergonomics to support care team members
- Reduced automobile impact and promotion of public transportation
- Social equity, within the community and care team
- Flexible design to support multiple clinical programs without additional construction and associated material waste
- Building lifecycle impact reduction to optimize the environmental performance of products and materials, including tracking embodied carbon
- Green roof improves storm water runoff, reduces heat island effect, provides views and relaxing exterior space
MHMMCP received the Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award in both 2022 and 2023. This award recognizes MHMMCP for substantive progress and superior performance in environmental sustainability. The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards are the nation’s premier recognition program for environmental performance in the health care sector. Launched in 2002, the awards program recognizes health care facilities and health systems for their commitment to environmental stewardship and their sustainability achievements. Learn more.