5 Key Strategies for Reducing Energy Consumption in Hospitals
Hospital leaders have many options for reducing energy consumption in medical facilities. Every corner is an opportunity, and making these changes improves the quality of life for workers and patients. Cut use by implementing the most high-impact strategies, which lower the industry’s carbon footprint and save countless dollars and resources.
1. Optimized HVAC Systems
A study of a hospital’s energy use in China discovered outpatient buildings used 5,306.2 megawatt-hours of electricity, of which 34% were end-use cases and 66% were refrigeration. This is one of many examples of how much medical facilities spend on HVAC systems. Maintaining internal conditions for patient comfort is a priority, and maintaining air quality with extensive ventilation is essential.
Combating this requires hospitals to implement automation. Workers should undergo training to manage controls. The systems will accurately judge occupancy and weather in real-time and report when areas get too hot or cold. Employees will also need to change their behaviors to accommodate efficiency, such as closing doors and windows in climate-sensitive parts of the building.
Hospitals should also consider rightsizing, which adjusts the power and dimensions of HVAC systems to suit the facility’s load better. Many buildings may have unnecessarily large systems and could downsize without compromising comfort or cleanliness.
2. Equipment Efficiency Upgrades
The essential devices powering triage and care require a lot of power. Everything from imaging machines to employee sign-in software needs electricity. Hospitals can create energy management policies to use everything smartly while prioritizing upgrades and replacements that use less power.
Many modern devices use energy management systems to oversee each machine’s performance and its typical power requirements. This helps identify issues before wastage occurs and informs retro-commissioning to see if machinery operates according to expectations.
Medical facilities also need energy-efficient equipment to accommodate more intensive technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) could change patient care forever, but it is one of the most consumptive innovations on the planet.
This makes resource awareness even more critical, especially when hospitals want to capitalize on AI’s potential to advance medical science. Deep learning has shown a 99.95% accuracy in detecting Alzheimer’s disease, which could make it more straightforward for professionals to plan treatments quickly. Gaining these practical advantages means optimizing energy use first.
3. LED Lighting Retrofit
Hospitals need constant lighting to accommodate their around-the-clock operations. Many bulbs in hallways and surgical rooms are outdated and use unnecessary power. Switching to LEDs will reduce the amount of energy needed. Analyses show LED bulbs use 75% less energy than regular bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer.
Additionally, stakeholders can advocate for habitual shifts and technological enhancements to make them even more productive. Sensors can shut off lights in areas without occupants, and employees can manually turn them off for equipment and rooms not in use.
4. Renewable Energy Integration
Solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, and wind turbines, among other options, are vital for cutting reliance on fossil fuels and lowering consumption. Hospitals can go the conventional route by installing rooftop panels or similar technologies. They can also purchase renewable energy credits from providers.
They can implement heat recovery with combined heating and power systems if they want to make procedures even smarter.
Hospitals must pair integration with energy storage systems, which capitalize on excess generation to use during peak hours or in an emergency. Most of the batteries in these systems last up to 15 years before needing replacement. The return on investment is quick to obtain, primarily if hospitals consider the losses that would occur during a blackout.
5. Water Heating Optimization
Hot water is crucial for laundry, cooking, sanitizing workspaces, and keeping employees hygienic. Hospitals are responsible for 7% of commercial water use in the U.S., making it one of the most significant end uses. Therefore, medical buildings need high-efficiency water heaters. They can integrate with renewable energy for even more savings.
Staff should also suggest audits to review the state of hot water pipes and related infrastructure. These ideas can translate to sealing more gaps in places like the building’s envelope. New insulation may be necessary, which can preserve heat. Checking for leaks will also maximize energy demands for water-based functions in a hospital. Employees should receive education on how to identify potential problems.
Greener Hospital Operations
Those interested in sustainability enhancements can spread awareness of these issues by communicating them to medical professionals. Collaboration and transparency between patients and healthcare providers are the best ways to remind facilities that energy use is essential to consider.