As a national leader in medical education, healthcare and research, with campuses in six locations, we take our responsibility to remain an eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable institution seriously.
(can put a pic of water body with ducks here)
A focus on the optimal use of resources helps us in providing the best possible services at an affordable cost to the over 9000 outpatients and over 2000 inpatients who we serve daily. This philosophy of stewardship without sacrificing the needs of future generations has become part of our institutional culture and guides all our decisions impacting the environment.
The Environmental Engineering Department supports a safe, clean, and sustainable campus through the efficient management of water, waste, and solar energy resources.
Water and power are particularly scarce in the district of Vellore. CMC has advanced sewage treatment plants (STP) across its campuses, and using the latest filtration and treatment technologies, water is recycled and reused for a wide range of needs, including air conditioning.
For instance, to treat the effluents from the CMC Chittoor Campus in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh, the Environmental Engineering Department has installed a sewage treatment plant called Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS). The recycled wastewater is used for gardening and flushing applications. Since its installation, CMC has been able to save initial investment and maintenance costs as no imported materials or components are needed.
A unique factor in this system is that it operates without mechanical means and sewage flows by gravity through the different components of the system. Up to 1,000 cubic meters of domestic and non-toxic industrial sewage can be treated by DEWATS. Another interesting feature is that the most important parts of this system work without electrical energy inputs.
With sunny days most of the year, solar power is tapped into, to reduce our electricity consumption, Solar PV arrays are installed on top of many our buildings to generate electricity during peak hours, and solar water heating reduces some of the load on conventional boilers.
In the Town Campus, a Solar Concentrator – Arun 100 – has been installed on the roof of the Engineering Block, to pre-heat water using the sun’s rays, for use in the laundry and for the steam requirements of the hospital.
It tracks the sun and focuses energy on a water filled coil, pre-heating water before it goes to the boiler. This has significantly reduced the use of furnace oil with a subsequent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. (need a pic of the Solar Concentrator for this section)
The Malargal Magalir Federation is a green initiative aimed at managing our waste in environmentally sustainable ways while also employing women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The federation trains women in self-help groups to manage all kinds of waste through repurposing, reusing, and selling plastic and metal. (pic of waste being sorted through by the women)
Two new silencers have been installed at the Bagayam Campus to reduce the noise pollution in this predominantly residential campus. (can source pics from Dept through Saravanan)
Our founder, Ida Scudder, had a great love for nature and is part of campus folklore. When Ida bought the land where the medical college, student hostels, and various staff quarters are currently located, it was almost barren. (pic of Ida Scudder in garden)
Today, through the sustained efforts of generations of nature-loving students and staff inspired by Aunt Ida’s example, the campus has flourished into a green, biodiverse haven that supports a rich variety of native flora and fauna – birds, butterflies, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and a large number of plant species. (fauna pic here)
CMC received the Environmental Sustainability Award at CAHOCON 2026 (can put a pic here from Weekly News, if they have sent)
The campus is home to a rich diversity of tree species that contribute to its vibrant natural heritage and the commitment of the community to keep it that way.
Last updated on 28 July 2026
Watch an eight-minute video of how CMC’s green initiatives make it a healthcare leader in India’s sustainability efforts
