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Top Ten Tips
Reducing energy consumption and saving money in a hospital culture
By Michael Sherman
In the past, hospital administrators did not need to worry about the portion of the operating budget dedicated to energy costs, as it was a very small percentage. Today, with the deepening recession and renewed effort to manage all costs, more efficient approaches to managing energy costs can make a difference.
There are many new and emerging technologies that allow hospitals to make saving energy easier and more effective. While some recommended changes are small and others more substantial, the following are the top 10 recommendations for health care facilities to consider.
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Lighting modernization
1. LED lighting can provide lighting for certain applications at fraction of the energy used in other lighting products. 2. Energy efficient lamps to replace incandescent light bulbs. 3. Energy efficient lamps for fluorescent fixtures.
Replacing older bulbs with newer more energy efficient bulbs is an inexpensive way to begin to save energy. Implementing lighting controls, sensors and dimmers in certain environments can also save money and decrease unnecessary energy use in spaces that aren’t occupied after a certain time or need less lighting.
Retrofitting lighting is also an efficient way to get your hospital or facility on the track to minimizing energy use. It involves replacing components in the fixture or, in some cases, the complete fixture is replaced to make it more energy efficient.
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Variable frequency drives (VFD)
A VFD is a system for controlling the speed of an electric motor by controlling the frequency of the electrical power supplied to the motor. These drives have the option to vary the speed of the fans based on the load being used. Variable-frequency drives should be used with larger motors and fans in the facility to maximize energy efficiency.
For example, in ventilation systems for large buildings, variable-frequency motors on fans save energy by allowing the volume of air moved to match the system demand.
Variable frequency drives connected to motors in a chilled water plant.
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Chiller plant efficiency
It is estimated that chillers consume 20 percent of the total electrical energy generated in North America, making it very important to reduce consumption in this area. Water-cooled chillers, which use water to remove the heat, are twice as energy efficient as air-cooled chillers, which use the flow of outside air to remove heat from the chiller.
Newer chillers often have variable frequency drives (mentioned above). In older systems, cooling tower
fans run continuously at full speed, causing excess energy and dollars to be wasted.
High-efficiency burners and controls for boilers.
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Boiler plant efficiency
Similar to chillers, older boilers for heating systems are constantly going at full speed. There are two energy saving options with boilers – retrofitting or replacing. While a large cost upfront, replacing boilers with new efficient technologies will save money in the long run. Newer boilers have the ability to change capacity when the full heat is not needed. Retrofitting boilers with new burners and controls may have similar savings as replacement boilers but at a lower investment cost.
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Steam trap maintenance and replacement
A steam trap regulates how much heat is allowed through a terminal device (radiator, patient room fan coil units, etc). Steam traps usually fail because certain parts are not working the way they are supposed to work. Often times they end up in a fully open position, allowing too much heat to get through, resulting in both wasted energy and dollars.
There could be hundreds or even thousands of steam traps in a hospital. Every year 20 percent of the steam traps should be replaced and all should be checked for maintenance issues. A good way to manage this process is to develop a five-year maintenance plan.
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Energy management system (EMS)
An EMS is a system of computer-aided tools used by mechanical system operators to monitor, control, and optimize the performance of both heating and cooling systems in all areas. They also allow you to look on a computer screen to see temperatures in each area served and change them accordingly. Although some systems are initially expensive, over time these devices will save money by efficiently controlling temperatures and energy levels.
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Repairing air leaks in air handlers
Regularly checking for leaks in air handlers will prevent using excess energy and will also save money from having to do extensive repairs. One easy way to see if you have leaks from ducts or air handling units is to feel the temperature in your mechanical room in the hot summer months. If your mechanical room feels comfortable or even a little cold during the warm months, then there is most likely a leak.
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Replacement of damaged pipes and duct insulation
Making sure insulation leaks are repaired is very important to keep heating and air conditioning from being wasted. If leaks occur, more heat is needed to get temperatures up and more cooling will be used to get temperatures lower than would normally be necessary. Replacing damaged pipes and repairing insulation immediately will help prevent unnecessary energy use.
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Utility bill reconciliation
A utility company often charges according to a power factor. The lower the power factor, the more inefficient your electrical system is in using the power received from the utility company. If your facility has a low power factor, then you will be penalized with added charges.
To avoid these extra charges, you can use power factor correction capacitors to increase the power factor of your system. The installation of power factor capacitors on the user's electrical distribution system eliminates the necessity of paying penalties to the utility company for poor power factor.
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Creating an energy newsletter
In addition to the technical ways to increase energy and cost efficiency, it is important to create awareness in your facility. Create an Energy Newsletter that goes to all employees about ways to reduce energy, such as turning off your computers at night and turning lights off in the office when you leave to go to a meeting. This is a great way to save energy with little cost to your hospital.
Michael Sherman is vice president, Asset Solutions, ARAMARK Healthcare, Philadelphia. He can be reached at Sherman-Michael@aramark.com.
-April 2009 HFM Magazine Web Exclusive.
