Illustration by Travis Foster
While all dentists claim to take great care of their patients, one of our own has taken her commitment one step further—to the planet at large. Last June, dentist Dr. Jane Otto, along with her sister and front-desk associate, Mary, moved her practice to a building on Gravois and set about making it more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. Since opening their new office, the sisters have paved the way for other St. Louis dentists looking to go green.
“It’s very important to Mary and me to avoid things that are irresponsible and wasteful,” Otto says. Their first step toward a greener facility was purchasing an existing building and replacing the roof with a better-insulating membrane roof. They also installed insulation on top of existing walls, countertops made from recycled glass and an amalgam separator to prevent mercury for fillings from getting into groundwater. The sisters instituted a number of simpler practices as well, such as recycling, using green cleaning products and reusing furniture (including chairs and cabinetry) left by the building’s previous owner.
Christy Cunningham-Saylor, environmental specialist at the sustainable design and construction firm Vertegy, says that many business owners assume going green is more expensive. “It’s not always the case,” she says. “At times it can be more expensive, at times it can be cost-neutral and at times it can be cheaper.” When trying to build a more sustainable facility, she suggests looking into renewable energy strategies and air quality, reducing lighting power and using sustainable materials and products.
Cunningham-Saylor encourages business owners to take modest initial steps, even if, as in Otto’s case, the measures taken don’t yet add up to an official Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. “Many people choose to do the right thing, whether or not it includes LEED certification, knowing that they’re building a more energy-efficient facility and providing a healthier indoor environment for occupants,” she says. “This shows that Dr. Otto is taking her healthcare profession seriously and to heart—in helping people and providing a healthier environment.”
