French Hospital Medical Center Honored for Environmental Leadership with National Practice Greenhealth Award

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, September 5, 2025 – SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Sept. 5, 2025 – Dignity Health French Hospital Medical Center has earned a prestigious Practice Greenhealth 2025 Environmental Excellence Award, recognizing the hospital's significant commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience in health care operations.

This honor, the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award, acknowledges health care institutions demonstrating measurable progress in sustainability and environmental performance. Honorees like French Hospital exhibit excellence across multiple key areas, including energy and water conservation, responsible waste management, and the elimination of mercury from their practices.

“We are incredibly proud of the team at French Hospital for this important recognition from Practice Greenhealth," said Sue Andersen, the President and CEO of French Hospital. "Their dedication to implementing projects that reduce our environmental impact demonstrates our commitment to creating healthier communities, both inside and outside our facility."

French Hospital's recognition is attributed to its innovative rooftop water heater project. This initiative, championed by Eric Ruelas, Manager of Facilities Management at French Hospital, has yielded notable environmental and operational benefits:

• 27% reduction in water usage.
• 15% decrease in electricity consumption.
• Over 15% reduction in natural gas consumption.
• Significant operational efficiency: The project shifted heating demand, reducing steam usage from 1,380 lbs. per hour to 620 lbs. per hour, leading to utility savings.

"We love where we work and what we do – our work proves it,” said Ruelas.

These tangible efforts contribute to a healthier environment and align with Dignity Health's broader sustainability goals. As a member of CommonSpirit Health, Dignity Health is actively integrating environmental protection into its mission through the CommonSpirit Health Climate Action Plan. This includes ambitious goals to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and a 50% reduction in operational emissions by 2030, reinforcing environmental stewardship as a core component of improving health for all.

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About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, 98-bed acute care hospital located in San Luis Obispo, California. French’s Oppenheimer Family Center for Emergency Medicine is the area’s most advanced emergency services center. The modern facility is home to the Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center, San Luis Obispo County’s premier cardiac center, providing the latest cardiac and imaging technology, and the Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families. 

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/frenchhospital.

About Dignity Health Central Coast

Seven award-winning hospitals comprise Dignity Health Central Coast: Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo, all recognized for their quality of care, safety, and service.

Additionally, Dignity Health Central Coast has a network of nearly 50 physician offices known as Pacific Central Coast Health Centers that include primary care, cancer care and various specialty offices. Dignity Health Central Coast also includes premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services.

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.