DOE launches EnergySmart Hospitals initiative
In an effort to increase the use of energy-efficient technology, the Department of Energy has launched the EnergySmart Hospitals initiative at the annual meeting of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.
The initiative has set a goal of 20 percent improved efficiency in hospitals and 30 percent improvement over current standards in new construction.
DOE officials say the initiative could save millions and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Last year, hospitals spent more than $5 billion on energy and produced more than 2.5 times the energy intensity and carbon dioxide emissions of commercial office buildings.
Currently, the nation's 8,000 hospitals are among the most energy-intensive commercial buildings.
Unlike many other commercial buildings, hospitals must remain fully operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and continue to provide services during power outages, natural disasters and other events that would force other facilities to close.
"Hospitals today find themselves at the nexus of two of our nation's most critical realities: rising healthcare costs and rising energy costs," said Associate Under Secretary for Energy Richard F. Moorer. "With major hospital construction planned before 2014, we have a unique opportunity to help U.S. hospitals improve energy efficiency, which will reduce their energy costs and free up healthcare dollars that can be reinvested in patient care."
The EnergySmart Hospitals initiative will provide tools, resources, case studies and design strategies to support hospitals in increasing energy efficiency while delivering quality patient care, operating cost-effectively and maintaining healthy healing and work environments.
Tools and resources will include advanced energy design guides for small and large hospitals, technology assessments and an interactive Web site.
The initiative will also make available a series of training sessions, initially targeting hospitals in five urban metropolitan areas.
What is your hospital doing to cut down on energy costs and reduce emissions? Share your story - e-mail Associate Editor Molly Merrill at molly.merrill@medtechpublishing.com.
