In the spring of 2008, Xcel Energy presented Hazelden with an award for energy conservation activities during a building project and for participating in a program that reduces the load on Xcel's power grid.

The building project was the installation of energy efficient lighting and mechanical systems during the renovation of the lower lakeside-Cronin building on Hazelden's Center City, Minn. campus resulting in savings of 243,903 kilowatt hours annually.

Xcel Energy also presented the award to Hazelden for participating in its "interruptible customer" program. This means that on hot days when most Xcel customers have their air conditioning on, resulting in power consumption distribution challenges, the Center City campus shifts to its own electrical generator for power significantly reducing the load on Xcel's power grid.

The award-winning activities reflect Hazelden's longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship. Following are additional examples of Hazelden's recent activities to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce

• Hazelden's New York facility, an energy management system designed to allow monitoring from the Center City campus resulted in an 11 percent reduction in energy usage.
  
• Hazelden's Oregon facility, controls in a heating and air conditioning system were replaced resulting in an average 20 percent drop per year in energy consumption.
  
• Hazelden's Chicago facility, more energy efficient roof/windows and insulation were installed.
  
• At the Oregon facility Styrofoam cups are not used.
  
• Women's units on the Center City campus have glassware available to patients who do not want to use Styrofoam.
  
• Towels used for cleaning are reusable.
  
• Biodegradable dishwashing detergent and cleansing products are used.
  
• Across the system, baked goods, produce and seafood are purchased locally.
  
• Across the system, heavy plastic food packaging has been eliminated and replaced with lightweight containers; in addition, dishes, silverware and glassware are often used in place of "to go" packaging and catered meals are served on reusable sandwich trays instead of plastic disposable individual containers.
  
• In Food Services, yogurt is purchased in bulk, rather than by the cup resulting in the purchase of 35 fewer cases  annually; condiments are purchased in bulk; coffee, fountain soda, juice and Crystal Lite are provided in reusable glassware; the pack size and style of ketchup and mustard have been changed so bottles are completely empty when thrown out instead of partially empty.

• During renovation projects, materials such as wood, windows and light fixtures are stored for later use. For example, furniture, counters and bookcases from the former Hazelden bookstore in St. Paul will furnish the bookstore at Hazelden's Springbrook campus bookstore in Oregon when it's expanded later this year.
  
• Staff and patients reuse packing material such as bubble wrap and peanuts as well as boxes.
  
• On the Center City campus, used fax and print toners are picked up once a week by a local civic organization that turns them in for credit.
  
• On the Center City campus wooden shipping pallets are collected and picked up by a local shipping partner who reuses them for transporting freight.
  
• The paper Hazelden purchases for brochures, catalogs, etc. is 30 percent recycled post-consumer fiber.

• All paper is recycled. Confidential papers are shredded prior to recycling. Through the shred-it program, the Center City campus saved 564 trees in 2007; Plymouth, 87; and St. Paul, 28.
  
• Cardboard that isn't reused is recycled. For example, the Center City campus recycled in excess of 12 tons of cardboard in 2007.
  
• Among the items recycled are aluminum, asphalt, copper, iron, refrigerant, chemical solvents and batteries.
  
• Wood is recycled. For example, old wooden bed frames from the former Lilly unit were used to create cabinets and paneling in dining areas on the Center City campus.