Quest Diagnostics: Investing in Green Power to Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

Powering our more than 2,200 Patient Service Centers and our major lab locations across the country, which operate 24 hours a day, takes a tremendous amount of energy. To balance running an effective business with reducing the environmental impact of our operations, we continuously seek opportunities to reduce energy use and invest in green energy.

In 2015, Quest purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for wind-generated green power equivalent to nearly 16 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, enough to meet 6% of company-wide electrical use. Renewable energy certificates, also known as renewable energy credits, represent the environmental benefits (but not the electricity) associated with one mega-watt-hour of renewable energy generated. These certificates enable businesses to reduce the environmental impact of their energy use and support renewable energy projects.

Our commitment to invest in green energy was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), naming Quest Diagnostics to its Fortune 500® list of the largest corporate green power users.

Green power is defined as zero-emission electricity generated from environmentally renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power helps accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps users reduce their carbon footprints.

“We are buying a utility green power product from Constellation and TXU Energy,” explained Bill Conroy, Director, Quest Corporate Real Estate. “This demonstrates our choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.” 

Read more about our environmental initiatives in our 2015 Global Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility report.