By Healthcare Facilities Today

The Ozarks Medical Center (OMC) in West Plains, Mo., received a $1.26 million energy loan from the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Division of Energy to allow the hospital to replace a hot water boiler, chiller, and steam boiler. 

OMC will also use the loan to purchase a hot water heat exchanger and make lighting upgrades to improve efficiency. These improvements are expected to result in annual energy savings of approximately $155,300, according to an article on the Hispanic Business website. 

The loan will be repaid with money saved on energy costs as a result of implementing these upgrades and improvements. 

Since the Energy Loan Program's inception in 1989, the Division of Energy has awarded more than 550 loans, which has resulted in nearly $84 million in completed energy-efficiency projects and more than $158 million in estimated cumulative energy savings, the article said. Loan financing may be used for various energy-saving investments, including upgrades in insulation, lighting systems, heating and cooling systems, windows and other items that affect energy use. 

Read the article.