Senior DOE Official Announces Launch of EERE's EnergySmart Hospitals
July 23, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 23, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Associate Under Secretary Richard F. Moorer announced the launch of EERE's EnergySmart Hospitals initiative at the American Society for Healthcare Engineering's annual meeting. Hospitals are among the most energy-intensive commercial buildings in the United States, with energy costs rising by more than 200% from 1999 to 2007.
Currently, hospitals have more than 2.5 times the energy intensity and carbon dioxide emissions of commercial office buildings. Reducing the energy intensity of this sector will in turn reduce that carbon footprint. Adding renewable energy strategies into the mix will allow hospitals to dramatically extend power reliability during disasters and emergencies, and enhance their standing as proactive community partners.
The initiative aims for a 20% improvement in efficiency in existing buildings and a 30% improvement over current standards in new construction. With more than $200 billion in new healthcare construction planned before 2014, DOE recognizes an unprecedented opportunity to impact the hospital marketplace for energy efficiency.
The EnergySmart Hospitals initiative will provide tools, resources, case studies, and design strategies to support hospitals in meeting the challenge of increasing energy efficiency, while delivering quality patient care, operating cost-effectively, and maintaining healthy healing and work environments. Tools and resources will include advanced energy design guides for small and large hospitals, technology assessments, and an interactive Web site. The initiative will also make available a series of training sessions, initially targeting hospitals in five urban metropolitan areas.
