B_0315_Newsfeed_HospitalHall

Hospital Energy Use Stays Flat, Water Use Drops in 2014

March 30, 2015

New technology driving increased demand on healthcare systems.

While many industries in the U.S. are decreasing their energy and water consumption as a result of rising utility prices and environmental concerns, a new report shows that hospitals have not kept up with the trend, using about as much power as they did 20 years ago.

The Grumman/Butkus Associates 2014 Hospital Benchmarking Survey examined energy and water usage patterns in 102 U.S. hospitals. Although fossil fuel energy use intensity is on the decline, electricity demand has stayed largely the same. The survey’s authors point to the introduction of more energy-intensive electronic imaging equipment, as well as the switch to electronic records, as reasons that electricity needs have not dropped.

While energy consumption stayed flat, the survey showed marked improvement in hospital water use intensity, seeing the average gallons/sf/year dropping from nearly 70 in 2001 to barely above 50 in 2013. Some of the survey’s respondents, representing over 73 million square feet of facilities, also measured energy cost per bed in their buildings. They found that the average cost was $9,000 per staffed bed without water costs and only $1,050 per staffed bed when respondents included water. The full report is available here.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Buildings, create an account today!

Continue Reading

Sponsored Recommendations

Building Better Schools

Download this digital resource to better understand the challenges and opportunities in designing and operating educational facilities for safety, sustainability, and performance...

Tips to Keep Facility Management on Track

How do you plan to fill the knowledge gap as seasoned facility managers retire or leave for new opportunities? Learn about the latest strategies including FM tech innovations ...

The Beauty & Benefits of Biophilic Design in the Built Environment

Biophilic design is a hot trend in design, but what is it and how can building professionals incorporate these strategies for the benefits of occupants? This eHandbook offers ...

The Benefits of Migrating from Analog to DMR Two-Way Radios

Are you still using analog two-way radios? Download this white paper and discover the simple and cost-effective migration path to digital DMR radios that deliver improved audio...