Focusing on ways of reducing power consumption through green energy production methods is one key way of reducing the bills for a fixed hospital cost.
According to Becker’s Hospital Review, what used to fall under the category of expensive trend is now becoming a necessity as health facility operators seek ecological ways of economising, especially on routine expenses.
In the article, California-based health provider Kaiser Permanente, which operates across eight states and the District of Columbia, offers input from its experience of trying to bring down energy costs.
The provider is active in implementing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) stipulations for the green building certification program that recognises top building strategies and practices.
In February, Kaiser Permanente announced plans to purchase sufficient renewable energy to replace 50 per cent of the power it currently consumes within the framework of 20-year contracts.
Specifically, under the plan, the provider is purchasing the following quantities of green energy: 110 megawatts of solar energy, 43 megawatts of wind power and 70 megawatts of solar energy created onsite.
Kaiser Permanente is one of the National Top 100 green energy users in the U.S. under its Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership.
However, the Becker’s Hospital Review says that, while LEED provides industry recommendations, it is not always essential to follow the criteria of the body in order to put green strategies into place.
Many hospitals are incorporating energy-saving tactics into their operations which are less drastic. These include installation of automation controls, occupancy sensors, retrofitted lighting and occupancy sensors and even a decision to opt out of unnecessary building at all.
Of course, new builds have the advantage of being able to incorporate green lighting, water and energy strategies from the ground up but even operators of older buildings can make a start through establishing their energy consumption baseline and gearing up operations to stick to it.
Source: Beckers Hospital Review
Image credit: mamashealth
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Focusing on ways of reducing power consumption through green energy production methods is one key way of reducing the bills for a fixed hospital cost.
