The new Rockingham Memorial Hospital site isn't set to open until 2010, but Friday WHSV got a tour of the new site where managers are trying to create Virginia's first certified green hospital.

There's still two years to go until they move in the new building, but what was once a colorful illustration is moving toward reality.

Dennis Coffman, the director of facilities, says they're taking several measures to make the hospital environmentally friendly.

"It's just good business sense because some of these things are energy efficient, and they'll save you long-term operational costs, like lower your water bill, lower your electric usage. Those types of things," says Coffman.

It starts in the parking lot, an expansive area near the intersection of Port Republic Road and Reservoir Street. As rain water runs off, the ponds and containment areas will filter it.

The hospital will also give priority parking to eco-friendly cars. Walking inside, visitors will go straight to the large cafeteria area, where a two-story curved wall will be lined with glass.

Coffman says the glass will be reflective and highly insulated. That'll prevent heat loss during the winter and keep costs down.

Passing through the future emergency room, visitors arrive at one of the several stairwells in the 608,000 square foot facility. The stairwells will have windows installed in them to create a less closed-in feeling.

The stairs take visitors to the third floor, which will be home of the new maternity wing. Looking out toward the western side of the building, visitors see a white rooftop that’s designed to help keep cool air inside during the summer.

"But then also it helps prevent being a heat sink, which is a green type of an issue for just our environment as much as it is for us to save money," says Coffman.

The savings continue with the use of methane gas from the county's landfill.

"We were able to get it at a price that would be somewhat less expensive than natural gas. So then we've saved our health care dollars," says Coffman.

Even after they move in, managers will encourage employees to participate in a recycling program. That will bring them closer to an official LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

RMH managers say they'll start moving some of the offices to the new site in February 2010. They aim to begin seeing patients by June of that year.

The general contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, reports its workers have put in a combined 500,000 hours on the site with no lost-time injuries.

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