HOUGHTON — Aspirus Health recently added its first hybrid vehicle to its fleet of company vehicles in the Upper Peninsula.

“This hybrid vehicle has the capability to run on gas and electricity,” said Jason Bessner, director of regional facilities and Green Team co-chair. “Adding this new vehicle will allow for lower gasoline use in the region. Many of our team members travel across the Upper Peninsula to provide care at our hospitals and this is one way we can continue to be environmentally responsible. We expect to save 10 to 15 percent on gasoline consumption with the hybrid vehicle compared to the previous model.”

The Aspirus Sustainability Initiative was established in 2018 as a coordinated, strategic effort to identify and implement sustainability initiatives across the Aspirus Health system.

“The teams in the Upper Peninsula have been working on sustainability initiatives including recycling, landscaping, energy conservation and incorporating plant-forward menus,” said Jenn Jenich-Laplander, regional communications lead and Green Team co-chair. “It’s exciting to see it all come together. This is a win for our sustainability goals and reducing our carbon footprint.”