Enigin Update - U.S. Hospitals Energy Efficiency Progress but More to be Done
ACCORDING to a survey recently conducted by Health Facilities Management magazine and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) U.S. hospitals and health systems are expanding their energy efficiency efforts.
After the recent economic downturn, the 2011 Hospital Energy Management Survey shows health companies and facilities are making progress in energy efficiency, with many additional opportunities remaining.
The survey of health care engineers and others responsible for energy management across the States discovered that over the last two years:
More than half have upgraded building control and automation systems (53 percent) in their facilities,
Implemented occupancy sensors for lighting systems (51 percent),
Fifty-five percent say they now select energy-efficient or ENERGY STAR-certified products during equipment or appliance replacement—double the percentage found in a similar survey conducted in 2006.
Dale Woodin, ASHE’s executive director, stated: “As environmental stewards to their communities, hospitals are committed to smart energy use. In light of the recent economic downturn, we are encouraged to see hospitals and health systems able to allocate precious capital to improve energy efficiency.”
The survey reveals that hospitals are implementing both short-term and long-term energy efficiency solutions. 25 percent of the survey’s respondents are using energy plans covering up to 10 years or more into the future. These plans involve the following the Green Guide for Health Care or commissioning of existing buildings to monitor baseline energy performance.
The survey also reports that hospitals still have much to do. Delbert Reed, who sits on an energy management task force at ASHE and is director of facilities engineering at Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, said: “There’s a tremendous amount of savings that can be achieved beyond what we’re saving now.”
Enigin Distributors in the U.S. have the ideal technology and solutions to enable hospitals and health facilities to gain control of their energy use, reducing emissions and energy costs. Enigin plc's range of cutting edge solutions give control to energy managers and decision makers, providing real-time and full analytical historical energy data, along with intelligent controls for lighting, motors, air-con and refrigeration.
Picture of Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City by Edgar Zuniga Jr
