Aspirus Langlade Hospital invests in solar power

FOR ANTIGO TIMES

ANTIGO, WI. – Aspirus Langlade Hospital is leading efforts to reduce the carbon footprint by investing in solar power. Solar panels have been installed on the roof of the hospital as an alternative power source and will be fully operational in the coming weeks.

“As a leader in the communities we serve, we have an obligation to be economically, socially and environmentally responsible,” said Jason Noskowiak, Director of Facilities and Maintenance for Aspirus Langlade Hospital. “We intend to reduce our energy use by 50 percent and our carbon impact by 80 percent by 2028.”

North Wind Renewable Energy, located in Stevens Point, has been installing the solar panels over the past several weeks. The panels will operate when the sun is shining, and conditions are optimal for energy production. The system is projected to produce 142,395 kWh per year for an annual offset of 4% of the hospital’s usage.

The solar project is part of an Aspirus system sustainability initiative intended to improve the lives of patients and the health of the communities it serves. The project was funded by a grant from Focus on Energy Grant. Project funds were also designated at a health system level.

Aspirus Langlade Hospital was the first Aspirus facility to implement solar power as a renewable energy system. Additional solar power projects are planned for Aspirus Wausau Hospital and the new Aspirus Family House this fall.

Aspirus is a non-profit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin. Its 7,500 employees are focused on improving the health and well-being of people throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.  Aspirus serves communities through four hospitals in Upper Michigan and four hospitals in Wisconsin, more than 50 clinics, home health and hospice care, pharmacies, critical care and air-medical transport, medical goods, nursing homes and a broad network of physicians. Aspirus was recognized by IBM Watson Health as a Top 15 Health System in its 2018 and 2019 annual study identifying the top-performing health systems in the country. For more information, visit aspirus.org.