St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish has earned official recognition for its efforts to lower energy use. The facility recently received an ENERGY STAR certification for 2025, a distinction that highlights its place among the top-performing hospitals in Canada for energy efficiency.
The hospital achieved a score of 93 out of 100, indicating it is more energy-efficient than 93 per cent of similar buildings across the country. This accomplishment, which was celebrated at the hospital on Earth Day, April 22, 2026, makes St. Martha’s the second hospital in Nova Scotia to reach this standard, following Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.
To improve performance, the hospital implemented several upgrades, including a switch to LED lighting, new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and the installation of occupancy sensors. These changes, along with improved fan systems, were designed to better manage building temperatures while increasing comfort for patients. The facility collaborated with EfficiencyOne, which provides data analysis on electricity, fuel, and water usage to help guide these improvements.
These upgrades are part of a wider effort by Nova Scotia Health to reduce the environmental footprint of its facilities. Across the province, the organization’s environmental stewardship program has helped reduce nearly 37,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and saved approximately $6.6 million in annual costs.
Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness Michelle Thompson attended the celebration at the hospital to mark the achievement. During the event, she noted the hospital’s role in local efforts to build healthy communities and protect the environment.
