When Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., was working at operating more efficiently to save energy and money, they kept the patients in mind every step of the way, according to a case study on the Xcel Energy website.
The sustainability team started by installing occupancy sensors for both HVAC and lighting controls all over the building.
Other, more daring lighting improvements included converting all of its operating rooms to LED lighting. With that finished, they went outside, converting parking ramps and other exterior lighting to 80 percent LED and other high-efficiency options.
Changing the exterior lighting cut 50 to 60 percent of the facility's energy use, according to a hospital official. Regions also spend less time and money on maintenance because LEDs last longer, according to the case study.
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