Many of us have to contend with the rising price of fuel. Going somewhere in our car has become a conscious decision. We no longer simply take the car out for a spin. When we do have places to go and things to do, we map out our trip. We look for the shortest distance and try to find a one-stop shopping area. We strive to be “energy smart,” not just as a response to our economic needs but in an attempt to be environmentally friendly and kind to our planet.
As the current ASHE president, I have made energy efficiency initiatives a top priority and I’m pleased to report that ASHE is working toward this goal by partnering with the Department of Energy (DOE) on an exciting new program that was launched during the ASHE Annual Conference.
On July 22, David E. Rodgers, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the DOE announced “EnergySmart Hospitals.” This program was developed to help hospitals meet their overall mission—to provide optimal quality patient care—while facing decreased revenues and increased costs in terms of energy and other supplies.
The EnergySmart Hospitals program focuses on energy management by providing hospitals with tools and resources to help them discover and implement innovative, cost-effective, proven technologies and design strategies to maximize energy performance. By doing this, hospitals will dramatically reduce energy usage and operating costs, and at the same time lower greenhouse gas emissions.
EnergySmart Hospitals will provide us with the support we need as we work to increase our energy efficiencies by learning from each other. Central to EnergySmart Hospitals is an industry-driven Hospital Energy Alliance that brings together industry leaders and associations to lead the charge in our energy-efficiency quest. I am proud that ASHE is part of this and I know that all hospitals and all of America will reap the benefits of this program.
During this past year, we made great strides in our sustainability commitment. We reduced the amount of paper at our International Conference and Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design and Construction™ (PDC) and our ASHE Annual Conference, making them environmentally friendly; we established a sustainability task force; and we continue to work with the Environmental Protection Agency on our Energy Efficiency Commitment (E2C).
We need to become “energy smart” in every aspect of our lives and ASHE will be there to help lead the way. For information on EnergySmart Hospitals and other ASHE programs, please visit our Web site at www.ashe.org.
John R. Wood, CHFM, SASHE
Director, facilities management
Mercy Medical Center
Roseburg, Ore.
Update Resources at special prices
To order either of the following products, log on to www.ashe.org/ashe/products/pubs/importantresources.html.
• The Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities (2006 edition). Published by the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Health and The Facility Guidelines Institute, with assistance from the Department of Health & Human Services, the latest edition of the “AIA Guidelines” is available from ASHE. Authorities in 42 states, The Joint Commission and federal agencies cite these guidelines when reviewing plans as well as when certifying completed health care facilities. Catalog number: 055370; price: $98 for ASHE members, $140 for nonmembers.
• ASHE Fire, Electrical & Life Safety Compendium. This reference book provides readers with the means of identifying appropriate fire, electrical and life safety requirements. Catalog number: 055561; price: $65 for ASHE members, $85 for nonmembers.