In This Issue:
- Saving Money with The Inflation Reduction Act
- Get Ready for Earth Day 2025!
- Why a Plant-Based Diet is a Win-Win
How You Can (Still) Save Money with the Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), adopted in 2022, presents significant opportunities for outpatient clinics and group practices to reduce operational costs through energy efficiency improvements. By upgrading HVAC systems, switching to LED lighting, and utilizing renewable energy, clinics can cut expenses while also reducing their environmental impact.
My Green Doctor provides a short guide to using the IRA to capture as much as a $15,000 credit for installing solar panels on your home or business roof.
This article explores specific cost-saving benefits from the IRA for group practices and outpatient clinics, including tax credits, rebates, and real-world savings data.
My Green Doctor can help guide you through these options. Contact us today!
Heather Massey, Sustainability Programs Manager
[email protected]
(469) 877-4608
How Clinics Can Save on Energy Costs
1. Lower Utility Bills with Energy-Efficient HVAC & Heat Pumps
One of the biggest energy expenses for clinics is heating and cooling. Many practices operate in older buildings with inefficient HVAC systems, leading to high utility costs.
The IRA provides tax credits and deductions for energy-efficient HVAC upgrades, including heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling while using 30% to 60% less energy than traditional systems (EnergySage).
- Potential Savings: A 30% energy reduction could save a clinic with $20,000 annual HVAC costs between $6,000 and $10,000 per year.
- IRA Incentive: The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) offers up to 30% back on the cost of heat pumps and energy-efficient HVAC systems (EPA).
2. LED Lighting: 75% Less Energy Use
Switching to LED lighting is one of the easiest and most cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades for medical offices. LEDs use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs (DOE).
- Potential Savings: If a clinic spends $10,000 per year on lighting, switching to LEDs could save $7,500 annually.
- IRA Incentive: Clinics can use the 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction, which provides tax deductions for lighting upgrades (IRS).
3. Solar Energy: Lower Energy Bills + IRA Tax Credits
The IRA provides a 30% tax credit for solar panel installations in commercial buildings, which includes outpatient clinics and group practices (EPA).
- Potential Savings: A clinic that installs a $50,000 solar system could receive a $15,000 tax credit and save $5,000 to $10,000 per year on electricity costs.
- Bonus: Selling Excess Energy: Clinics in some states can sell excess solar power back to the grid, generating additional revenue.
4. Energy-Efficient Building Upgrades
Many outpatient facilities operate in older buildings with poor insulation, leading to higher heating and cooling costs. Simple upgrades, such as better insulation, energy-efficient windows, and automatic thermostats, can significantly cut energy use.
- Potential Savings: Clinics that improve insulation and install smart thermostats can reduce total energy costs by 10-20%, saving $5,000 to $10,000 per year for a $50,000 annual energy bill (Better Buildings).
- IRA Incentive: The 179D deduction provides tax incentives for improving building energy efficiency.
Case Study: A Real-World Example of Energy Savings
Hackensack Meridian Health, a healthcare network in New Jersey, reduced energy costs by 20% after upgrading its Building Automation System (BAS) and HVAC at its Medical Plaza outpatient clinic. This translated into thousands of dollars in annual savings while improving patient comfort (Better Buildings).
Get Ready for Earth Day 2025: Lead Sustainability in Your Clinic & Community
Earth Day 2025 is coming up on Tuesday, April 22, and this year’s global theme—“Our Power, Our Planet”—reminds us that every healthcare professional has the power to lead meaningful environmental change.
And closer to home, we are proud to announce that this Earth Day marks the 15th Anniversary for My Green Doctor!
As clinic administrators, office managers, and healthcare providers, you already champion patient well-being—now is the time to extend that leadership to environmental health. By celebrating Earth Day, you can educate patients, engage staff, and take real steps toward reducing your clinic’s environmental impact.
Need ideas? My Green Doctor is here to help.
Why Should Clinics Participate in Earth Day?
Climate change is a healthcare issue. The medical community plays a crucial role in environmental health—air pollution, extreme weather, and food insecurity all impact public health.
Patients trust healthcare professionals. Studies show that when doctors and clinic staff discuss environmental health, patients are more likely to take action.
Sustainable practices reduce costs. Simple energy efficiency upgrades, telehealth expansion, and waste reduction can lower overhead while reducing your clinic’s carbon footprint.
This Earth Day, let’s make an impact together.
How Your Clinic Can Take Action for Earth Day
1. Launch a Patient Education Campaign
Help patients understand the link between climate change and health by displaying educational materials in your waiting room.
Use My Green Doctor’s FREE patient brochures:
Download them here
✨ Tip: Hold a brief 5-minute “Earth Day Chat” with patients in the waiting area about how small changes—like using reusable water bottles or eating more plant-based meals—can improve health and the environment.
2. Organize a Community Clean-Up or Tree Planting Event
Partner with local organizations to clean up a park, street, or waterway. Engaging your community builds relationships while improving local environmental health.
How My Green Doctor Can Help: We provide guidance on organizing clinic-led environmental initiatives.
Need help getting started? Let us know, and we’ll help you plan a successful Earth Day event!
3. Host an “Eco-Friendly Health Workshop” for Patients
Teach patients how to:
✔ Eat a climate-friendly, plant-forward diet for better health
✔ Reduce plastic waste for a toxin-free home
✔ Improve indoor air quality
Use My Green Doctor’s step-by-step sustainability guide to create engaging workshops!
4. Engage Your Staff with a Green Initiative
Small changes can make a big impact:
✅ Switch to energy-efficient LED lighting
✅ Introduce paperless records & digital patient forms
✅ Offer incentives for employees who carpool or bike to work
My Green Doctor helps clinics build custom sustainability action plans.
Make This Earth Day Meaningful—With Our Help!
Earth Day isn’t just about one day of action—it’s about starting long-term environmental change in your clinic and community.
Want help organizing your Earth Day initiative? My Green Doctor is here to support you!
Together, we can lead the way toward a healthier planet and healthier patients.
How a Plant-Based Diet is a Win-Win
The Medical and Environmental Case for a Plant-Based Diet
As healthcare professionals, practice managers, and clinic administrators, we are constantly seeking ways to enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and promote preventive care. One of the most powerful yet underutilized strategies in clinical practice is dietary intervention—specifically, shifting toward plant-based or reduced-meat diets.
Compelling clinical evidence and environmental research demonstrate that plant-forward nutrition can reduce the burden of chronic disease, lower healthcare expenditures, and mitigate climate change. This article explores the health and environmental benefits of plant-based dietary patterns and how they align with modern healthcare practices.
The Health Benefits: Evidence-Based Advantages of a Plant-Based Diet
1. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Reversal
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with modifiable risk factors such as diet playing a pivotal role in disease progression.
- Plant-based diets have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance.
- The Adventist Health Study-2 found that vegetarians had a 24% lower incidence of ischemic heart disease compared to non-vegetarians (Journal of the American College of Cardiology).
- Mechanism: Increased fiber intake, lower saturated fat levels, and enhanced nitric oxide bioavailability contribute to improved vascular function and reduced atherosclerosis progression.
2. Type 2 Diabetes Risk Reduction
Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health concern, with 50% of adults now classified as prediabetic.
- A plant-based diet is associated with a 23-30% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as demonstrated in the EPIC-Oxford Study (Diabetes Care).
- Mechanism: Whole-food, plant-based diets enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce systemic inflammation through increased fiber intake and polyphenol exposure.
3. Cancer Prevention and Lower Cancer Mortality
Epidemiological evidence links red and processed meat consumption with an increased risk of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies processed meats as Group 1 carcinogens, citing compelling evidence of their role in colorectal cancer.
- The Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study found that replacing animal proteins with plant-based proteins was associated with a 20% lower overall cancer mortality rate (JAMA Oncology).
- Mechanism: Plant-based diets are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals that modulate oncogenic pathways and promote DNA repair mechanisms.
4. Reduced Inflammation and Improved Autoimmune Disease Outcomes
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease have been linked to diets high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates.
- Studies indicate that plant-based diets reduce inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who switched to plant-based diets reported decreased joint pain and reduced disease activity scores (Rheumatology).
5. Clinical Applications: The Role of Healthcare Professionals
Medical practitioners play a critical role in educating patients about the benefits of dietary shifts. Practical steps include:
- Screening patients for dietary risk factors and discussing plant-forward options.
- Integrating dietary interventions into chronic disease management plans.
- Providing patient resources on plant-based meal planning within clinical settings.
Environmental Benefits: Why Healthcare Leaders Should Educate Their Patients about Sustainable Nutrition
1. Lower Carbon Footprint and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The healthcare sector is responsible for 8.5% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (Health Affairs). Dietary choices are an underrated but powerful tool to decrease the carbon footprint of healthcare institutions.
- A global shift toward plant-based diets could reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 52% (Nature).
- The Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change recommends that healthcare institutions lead by example in promoting climate-conscious dietary patterns (The Lancet).
2. Water Conservation
Meat production is extremely water-intensive compared to plant-based food systems.
- One kilogram of beef requires approximately 15,400 liters of water, whereas one kilogram of lentils requires only 1,250 liters (Water Footprint Network).
- Healthcare professionals and their patients whoo adopt plant-forward food options in their lives can significantly reduce water consumption.
3. Reducing Healthcare Waste and Antibiotic Resistance
Industrial animal agriculture accounts for 75% of global antibiotic use, contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a major public health crisis (WHO).
- Lowering meat consumption reduces demand for intensively farmed livestock, subsequently decreasing antibiotic overuse and the spread of resistant bacteria.
Key Takeaways for Healthcare Leaders
As healthcare professionals, practice managers, and sustainability leaders, we have a unique responsibility and opportunity to integrate plant-based nutrition into our medical practice and institutional policies.
Practical Steps for Healthcare Clinics and Facilities
- Educate patients on plant-based dietary benefits using evidence-based clinical guidelines.
- Change to plant-forward hospital and clinic cafeteria policies, reducing red meat procurement.
- Incorporate nutrition-based interventions in chronic disease prevention programs.
- Collaborate with sustainability committees to align dietary initiatives with climate-conscious healthcare policies.
A plant-based or plant-forward diet is not merely a trend—it is a clinically validated, evidence-based intervention that reduces the risk of chronic disease, lowers healthcare costs, and mitigates climate change.
By embracing dietary sustainability, healthcare professionals can drive both patient health improvements and systemic environmental change.
Now is the time to position plant-based nutrition as a cornerstone of preventive healthcare—for the well-being of our patients, practices, and planet.
References
- JAMA Oncology – Plant Protein and Mortality Risk
- The Lancet Countdown Report on Health & Climate
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition – Inflammatory Markers
