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Many hospitals, such as Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, are constructing their new facilities under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Here are some of the strategies that “green hospitals” are embracing:
- Better “daylighting.” Using enlarged windows, reflective surfaces like aluminum ceilings, and light wells brings more daylight indoors and saves energy. There is also some evidence that daylight can improve work performance and speed patient recovery.
- Energy-efficient computer rooms. These can involve “hot-aisle/cold-aisle strategies.” This means lining up server racks in alternating rows with cold-air intakes on one aisle and hot-air exhausts on the other.
- Solar panels. These can reduce operating costs and serve as backups during power shortages.
- Efficient plumbing fixtures. These can cut water usage by 20 percent.
For more tips on improving energy efficiency and green design, visit the government’s Energy Star for Healthcare Web site at www.energystar.gov/.