Dive Brief:
- Hospitals are cutting costs in nearly all areas, but one that is often overlooked is energy efficiency. Hospitals are very resource-intensive, accounting for 3% of the square footage of all U.S. commercial buildings and 8% of the nation's energy consumption. This is largely because they operate round the clock and need complex HVAC systems to meet temperature and air quality regulations.
- Because lighting makes up nearly half of hospitals' electricity usage, simple changes can make a big difference. Hospitals can switch to energy-efficient lights and install motion sensors so unoccupied rooms are dark. Other options include reducing air flow to rooms that are unused or during nighttime hours.
- Good Samaritan Hospital in Illinois is upgrading a new building to use fewer resources. It is estimating that changes will make the building's energy consumption 20% lower per square foot than the older parts of the hospital.
Dive Insight:
It is estimated that healthcare facilities in the country spend nearly $9 billion a year on energy. The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Energy Retrofit Guide for Healthcare Facilities found there are many options available to hospitals that can cut consumption by 30%, often hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Aside from cutting costs, improving energy efficiency can also make equipment last longer and improve patient care and branding. Some consumers actively seek out "green" organizations when they need services.
Want to read more? You might enjoy this story on the 4 hospitals that are saving money by "going green."