A cup and a request started it all back in 1995. That's when 2 nurses suggested we switch our disposable cups from polystyrene to a biodegradable material that could be composted. The idea sparked an environmentally friendly initiative in our 25-bed hospital that has reduced our standard and medical waste, lowered our energy bills, improved employee safety and sent fewer greenhouse gases into the environment. Last year our green movement culminated in our becoming the first hospital to receive the Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention. These steps can help you become more eco-friendly and save you money along the way, too.