St. Martha’s Regional Hospital recognized with ENERGY STAR® certification

St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish has been recognized with an ENERGY STAR® certification for 2025 — making it just the second hospital in the province to receive the designation, and placing it among the top-performing hospitals in Canada for energy efficiency.

An ENERGY STAR-certified building is recognized for outstanding energy performance and environmental stewardship. In 2025, St. Martha’s achieved a score of 93 out of 100, meaning it is more energy-efficient than 93 per cent of similar buildings in Canada. The certification reflects a strong commitment to reducing energy consumption, lowering operating costs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

That commitment was celebrated on Earth Day (April 22), when staff, physicians, government officials and community partners gathered at the hospital to mark the achievement. The timing underscored the connection between environmental sustainability and healthy communities.

“You’ve helped position this hospital, this community and Nova Scotia Health as leaders in something that matters to us all: building healthy communities and protecting our environment,” said the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health and Wellness and Antigonish MLA, who spoke during the event. 

Driving measurable results 

Large facilities like hospitals consume significant amounts of energy, water and materials, and across Nova Scotia Health, ongoing efforts to improve energy management are helping drive measurable results.

“This recognition demonstrates our approach to energy management is progressing. Achieving this designation at a second healthcare facility reinforces that we can scale these efforts across Nova Scotia Health and continue improving both environmental performance and operational efficiency,” said John Hann, director of Maintenance and Operations at Nova Scotia Health. 

Through Nova Scotia Health’s environmental stewardship program, energy savings projects have been implemented across the organization, reducing almost 37,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and saving nearly $6. 6 million annually.  

“Healthcare is a large energy user and emitter. It’s important to show that we are taking action and moving in the right direction,” said Robert Barss, manager of Nova Scotia Health’s environmental stewardship program. “Receiving this certification is an acknowledgement of the work that has been done and the continuous improvements and progress happening at St. Martha’s.” 

Collaborative effort 

Like many accomplishments of this scale, the certification is the result of a sustained, collaborative effort focused on long-term impact — for both people and the planet.

Barss highlighted the importance of collaboration at the site level and a partnership with EfficiencyOne, which works with organizations like Nova Scotia Health to provide energy efficiency and carbon mitigation services.

Darrell Novak, assistant manager of Maintenance and Operations for St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, said EfficiencyOne offers utility data like electricity, fuel and water to guide initiatives that will have the most impact. 

“The partnership with EfficiencyOne is terrific. We review data like heat loss and energy use, and together we can use data to decide what’s best for the building from an energy perspective and get the best value for our investment,” said Novak.

Creating a more sustainable and comfortable environment 

At the site level, many of the changes are practical yet effective. One example is the full conversion from fluorescent lighting — a large power consumer — to LED technology.

Beyond lighting, upgrades to heating, ventilation and air systems have improved both efficiency and patient comfort. Occupancy sensors and system controls help ensure energy is not used unnecessarily, while also creating a more stable indoor environment.

Novak noted in some cases, the updates also directly impact patients, staff and visitors, by creating more controlled or comfortable conditions. 

“Updates to the fan systems mean heat and air are more controlled, eliminating sudden blasts of cold or warm air and creating a more comfortable experience for patients. The ability to dim lighting also contributes to a calmer, more restful environment in patients’ rooms,” he said. 

During the celebration, Chris Ranson from EfficiencyOne presented a commemorative plaque to Sarah O’Brien, site lead at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. The award, which will be displayed at the hospital, serves as a visible reminder of the team’s commitment to sustainability and a greener future.

“Achievements like this demonstrate how operational improvements can contribute to healthier facilities, stronger communities and a more sustainable future,” O’Brien said. “I’m incredibly proud of the team for their work on this initiative and their dedication to helping create healthy communities for generations.” 

Photo: Representatives from Nova Scotia Health and EfficiencyOne, along with the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness and MLA for Antigonish, gathered with staff and physicians at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital to celebrate receiving ENERGY STAR® certification for 2025. Pictured (left to right): Robert Barss, Darrell Novak, Thomas Young, John Hann, Michelle DePodesta, Sarah O’Brien, Dave Bligh, Chris Ranson, Nathaniel Schrader, and Minister Thompson.