UCI Health honored as leader in environmental sustainability

UCI Health — Placentia Linda also recognized for the first time for energy conservation initiatives

Orange, Calif. — UCI Health has been honored with the Practice Greenhealth Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award for a second time, placing it among North America’s top health systems leading the healthcare sustainability movement. It’s the fifth consecutive year that the academic health system has been honored by the healthcare sustainability organization.

The competitive Top 25 recognition is given to the highest scoring and highest performing of the more than 400 health organizations and 700 facilities that submit a Partner for Change application in the U.S. and Canada.

"As a forever organization, UCI Health is integrating sustainability into how we deliver care, operate our facilities and plan for the future,” said Chad T. Lefteris, president and CEO of UCI Health.

"This recognition from Practice Greenhealth reflects the meaningful progress we are making and our commitment to leading by example as healthcare organizations work to build a more sustainable future.”

UCI Health also received two Circle of Excellence Awards for Energy and Transportation. Additionally, UCI Health — Placentia Linda also received an Energy Circle of Excellence Award and the Greenhealth Champion Award, which honors hospitals that deliver superior sustainability performance.

Advancing sustainability in Placentia

The appearance of UCI Health — Placentia Linda on the list for the first time is the result of a number of strategies to design and implement a sustainability program that can grow with the organization.

Successful initiatives include:

• Establishing a multidisciplinary sustainability team to design and deliver sustainability initiatives and best practices
• Procuring 100% clean zero-carbon electricity
• Conducting an energy audit and developing an energy model to identify and track energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects
• Reducing electricity demand by more than 7% by implementing retro-commissioning, HVAC optimization and lighting improvement projects
• Committing to the Cool Food Pledge to reduce the climate impact from food purchases
• Increasing spending on sustainable food and beverage purchases by more than 14%
• Establishing baselines and monitoring protocols in all major environmental impact areas (Waste, Food, Energy, Carbon Emissions, Purchasing, Water) to track progress and identify successes

Green healthcare leader

UCI Health is proud to be at the forefront of healthcare sustainability. As one of the largest academic health systems in California, it is answering the urgent call to build a model that can withstand the increasing threat of climate change.

In December 2025, it opened UCI Health ― Irvine, the nation’s first all-electric acute care hospital.

In addition:

• In 2025, UCI Health became the first UC and fourth healthcare organization in the state to earn the Sustainable Healthcare Certification from The Joint Commission. This certification provides a framework to help organizations expand or continue their decarbonization efforts and receive public recognition of their commitment and achievements in contributing to environmental sustainability.
• In 2022, UCI Health signed The White House/Department of Health & Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge. In signing the pledge, UCI Health has committed to climate resilience and emissions reduction that includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
• Continued focus on Energy Management & Decarbonization has led to a steady decrease in emissions, 45% reduction from our 2019 baseline.
• At UCI Health ― Orange, the facilities team has transitioned more than 95% of its landscaping equipment from gas-powered to cleaner, quieter battery-powered tools.
• UCI Health decreased the use of nitrous oxide by over 80% and eliminated the use of desflurane, an inhaled anesthetic gas with the highest global warming potential
• Established a Healthy Interiors program and increased our volume of sustainable furniture (having no chemicals of concern) purchases by 82%.

A Sustainability Leadership Committee drives sustainability initiatives across the organization. This 20-member multidisciplinary group formed in 2023 and is co-chaired by the chief operating officer and the energy management and sustainability officer.

Learn more about the progress UCI Health is making toward a healthier future for all.