The following quantities of materials were recycled: 2,637 tons of scrap metal 6,435 tons of concrete 17,228 tons of masonry We also donated four medical supply boxes to the River Oaks Volunteer Fire Department.

More than seven months and $1,069,473 have been spent demolishing the old Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas (OMCT) building to make way for the Health Science Center’s growth. And because of the environmental and fiscal consciousness of the project, there’s been a lot of saving going on, too – saving the planet and saving money.

The culmination of the conservation efforts will be to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Building A, which is rising from the OMCT site. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project is an environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy place to live and work. The U.S. Green Building Council awards this certification after a building meets an extensive checklist of criteria. Part of these criteria is to recycle 75 percent of the demolished building’s weight.

Since 2005, when the Health Science Center purchased the property, hundreds of abandoned items from the hospital have been recycled. All types of furniture, office equipment and fixtures, even medical and office supplies, have found new homes with various local churches, school districts, universities and social service agencies. Donating these reusable items to non-profit organizations helps them get more mileage from their own financial resources and also allows the Health Science Center to do something good for the planet and the community.

But plaques and certificates are not the most important outcome of this green goal. Salvaging more than 26,000 tons of recyclable materials from ending up in landfills is only one of the ways the Health Science Center has tried to be a responsible corporate citizen throughout this process. Since February 2008, more than 2,000 truckloads of metal and concrete have been hauled to nearby recycling facilities. These trucks may have appeared to be hauling away unsightly debris, but now that green is the new gold, they were actually hauling precious cargo.

And since trees represent the best green investment ever, it’s reassuring to know that every effort has been made to protect as many existing trees at the site as possible during demolition. In fact, the new building’s design incorporates the mature greenery currently on the property. The natural shade will enhance both the attractiveness and energy efficiency of the building for years to come.

When Building A is complete, it will be one of 21 LEED-certified structures in Fort Worth. The donated hardware and fixtures, combined with the structural steel, aluminum, copper, brick and concrete salvaged from the site, will help significantly in obtaining this recognition. The addition of this sophisticated yet practical structure is one of the “building blocks” towards the Health Science Center’s goal of reaching top-10 status.

More information on the U.S. Green Building Council and LEED certification can be found at www.usgbc.org.