When thinking about how to reduce energy use in hospitals, one of the first questions to ask is: Where do hospitals use energy today?
According to an article on the Facilities Net website, the follow-up question is: What are the greatest targets for energy efficiency and how can they be addressed in a way that maintains functionality and patient comfort in the healthcare environment?
One of the best resources for understanding how energy is used in hospitals comes from a study conducted by the University of Washington Integrated Design Lab in conjunction with Solarc A+E at the Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital in Vancouver, Wash., published in 2012.
The article includes a breakdown of the particular uses. For instance, reheat energy use is driven by the conventional practice of over-chilling incoming air to drive moisture out of it, then re-heating it as needed for thermal comfort in VAV boxes.
The Fatal Flaws in Active Shooter Response in Healthcare Facilities
Utah Hospital Outage Highlights Backup Power and Resiliency Challenges
Ground Broken on New North Dakota State Hospital
Form Your Pit Crew: Key Takeaways From the 2025 Healthcare Innovations Conference
Glens Falls Hospital Caught Up in Oracle Health Data Breach