Anna Goldman Co-Leads Tour of New Rooftop Solar and Farm Facility
Last month, Dr. Anna Goldman, a primary care physician and health services researcher in GIM, and Dave Maffeo, BMC’s Senior Director of Support Services, led a tour of BMC’s rooftop solar and farm facility at 960 Massachusetts Ave. Dr. Goldman has recently taken on a new role as Medical Director of Climate and Sustainability for the BMC Health System.
While the tour was open to all of GIM, it was part of the Society of General Internal Medicine’s annual conference and was sponsored by the SGIM Environmental Health Interest Group.
The recently installed rooftop solar panels produce energy for BMC’s Clean Power Prescription, a pilot program that will use solar power generated at BMC to give energy bill credits to eligible, existing patients. Patients will be identified for this pilot program based on need, program availability, and eligibility. They must already be enrolled in BMC’s Complex Care Management Program and must have an Eversource account.
In addition to getting a glimpse at the solar panels, attendees received a first look at the brand new BMC rooftop farm, called Newmarket Farm. While continuing the work of the Power Plant Farm and supplying crops within the hospital, Newmarket Farm also donates produce to the community surrounding BMC twice a week.
In addition to supplying fresh produce, the farm offers several educational programs. The Rooftop Farm Summer Series has officially kicked off with a Gardening 101 workshop. Employees toured the farm, learned about soil science, and got to plant, fertilize, and take home their own tomato plants! To sign up for future Gardening 101 workshops, please click here.
The Newmarket Farm is also hosting farm-to-table experiences for children starting in July. Kids will learn, explore, and harvest on the farm at 960 Mass Ave. before heading to the kitchen (same address) to prepare a locally sourced, tasty meal.
The solar and farm facility tour drew an engaged group of attendees, including internal medicine physicians from across the US. It presented an opportunity for others to learn from the experience of Dr. Goldman and Mr. Maffeo, as they discussed what it takes to develop and implement pilot programs related to environmental health, climate, and sustainability.
If you are interested in partnership or would like more information on Clean Power Prescription, please contact co-founder Dr. Anna Goldman (anna.goldman@bmc.org).