Hospitals
Hospitals can reduce their energy consumption, minimize impact on the environment, and protect their bottom line by upgrading to high-efficiency equipment and systems. According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study, every dollar a non-profit hospital saves through better energy performance is equivalent to generating up to $20 in revenues.
*Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, energystar.gov/ia/partners/spp_res/Custom_Healthcare.pdf
Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
Ductless heat pumps provide greater control over temperature by zone, ensuring patient and staff comfort.
According to an Efficiency Maine study, HVAC systems account for an average 21% of electricity use in healthcare facilities. By upgrading to systems that allow zone-by-zone temperature control, hospitals can reduce energy costs and ensure the comfort of patients and staff. Efficiency Maine offers incentives to upgrade to high-efficiency systems including:
- Roof Top Units
- Ductless Heat Pumps
- Boilers and HVAC Controls
Lighting
LED lighting solutions can reduce energy costs and improve ambiance.
Lighting system upgrades can reduce lighting costs and improve light quality for a more comfortable environment. High-efficiency LEDs are easily integrated with controls. Efficiency Maine offers incentives for:
- Indoor Lighting
- Outdoor Lighting
- Lighting Controls
Commercial Kitchen Equipment
High-efficiency cooking and refrigeration equipment can be 30–45% more efficiency than conventional models.
Hospital cafeterias and kitchens can be a major source of energy consumption. Hospitals can reduce kitchen energy costs by upgrading to high-efficiency ventilation and cooking equipment. Efficiency Maine offers incentives for:
- Demand Control Kitchen Ventilation
Plug Loads
Administrative offices, examination rooms and reception areas use office equipment and medical equipment that can have a big electrical draw, even when not in use. Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR certified equipment when next updating office equipment, which is 30-75% more efficient than standard equipment. There are also resources to help you identify energy demands of medical equipment; some medical equipment may also be able to be powered down during off-hours. To learn more about ways to manage electricity demand of medical equipment, click here for a National Renewable Energy Lab Report. And to learn more on how to reduce electricity usage, visit the Energy Star website.
Custom Solutions
Don’t see your energy solution listed above? Efficiency Maine also offers incentives for customized, site-specific energy solutions, including integrated HVAC controls, building envelope upgrades, combined heat and power installations, and more. Click here for more information on the Custom Program.
Get Started
Ready to upgrade your hospital with high-efficiency equipment? Work with an Efficiency Maine Qualified Partner in order to be eligible for these incentives. Click here to find a Qualified Partner working near you. If you work with a contractor that is not yet a Qualified Partner, urge your contractor to find out more information here.
Additional Information and Resources
• Advanced Energy Retrofit Guide for Healthcare Facilities. Click here to download the guide.
• Healthcare Energy End-use Monitoring. Click here to download the report.
• Practice Greenhealth: Organization and web resource covering environmental solutions for the healthcare sector, including energy efficiency. Visit the Practice Greenhealth website.