Satellite Healthcare Recognized for Green Efforts

AUSTIN, Texas — Satellite Healthcare, a not-for-profit provider of kidney dialysis and related services, has received an Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) 4-Star Rating for its new location in Austin. The Satellite center, located in the Market District of the Mueller Airport Redevelopment, was presented the prestigious 4-Star Rating for excellence in sustainable building practices in design and construction.

AEGB, the nation’s first municipal green building program, found Satellite’s Mueller facility meets aggressive green building standards that help to reduce the impact on human health and the environment. A coordinated effort of ambitious goal setting and careful management of processes and materials during the clinic’s design and construction resulted in a building that conserves energy and water resources, protects the health of patients and staff and reduces waste throughout the building’s life cycle.

“As an innovative health care provider, we’re committed to offering a high-performance healing environment to our patients,” said Frank Jesse, director of real estate and facilities for Satellite Healthcare. “We worked closely with the City of Austin and the design and construction teams to identify health and sustainability goals, and ensure these were achieved in the final building. We are grateful for their vision and guidance, and we know our customers appreciate the environment — and the 4-Star Rating — that are the result.”

Satellite’s health care center, which currently has 25 employees, comprises 15,100 square feet that can accommodate 216 patients. The building team’s sustainability accomplishments include 17 percent energy savings resulting from efficient building systems, reclaimed water use for irrigation, recycled content and Texas-sourced building materials and low-emitting interior finishes.

“This 4-Star Rating demonstrates Satellite’s commitment to promote and protect the well-being of its patients, staff and the environment by constructing a dialysis facility that takes into account the long-term health of all,” said Cassidy Ellis, project coordinator at Austin Energy, in a statement. “How we design and construct buildings and how we consume energy matters to our health and matters to how much we spend on both health care and energy.”

Austin Energy will present Satellite Healthcare with the award at an event on May 21. Richard Morgan, green building and sustainability manager for Austin Energy, Frank Jesse and Lee Gros of Lee Gros Architect and Artisan Inc. will each give remarks on the accomplishment.