Boston hospitals have cut their energy use by 6 percent over the last three years, despite expanding their real estate footprint, patient care, and more extreme weather, according to an article on the Today's Facility Manager website.
A report by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission identified several areas where the hospitals have made progress in energy efficiency, conservation and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.
Electricity use dropped 25.4 million kWh. Natural gas use dropped 1.2 million therms. GHG reductions for all fuels was 5.7 percent. Cost savings are conservatively estimated at $11.9 million, enough to pay for healthcare for 1055 Massachusetts Medicare enrollees, the article said.
Massachusetts General Hospital reached 35 percent GHG reductions in 2014, Boston Medical Center is targeting a 45 percent reduction by 2020; Brigham & Women’s Hospital is committed to reaching 35 percent by 2020.
“What’s remarkable is that leading, highly competitive, medical institutions have come together to share their energy data for the greater good,” said John Cleveland, executive director of the Green Ribbon Commission and president of the national Innovation Network for Communities. “We hope this helps inspire health care sectors in cities nationwide to follow Boston’s lead.”
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