The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the launch of an initiative to increase the use of energy-efficient technologies in U.S. hospitals. The DOE notes these facilities are among the nation’s most energy-intensive commercial buildings, with energy costs mounting to more than $5 billion in the past year, and with energy intensity and carbon dioxide emissions 2.5 times those of commercial office buildings.
The EnergySmart Hospitals initiative, which is part of the DOE’s Building Technologies Program, has the goals of improving efficiency by 20 percent in existing facilities and by 30 percent over current standards in new construction, and to not only save millions in energy costs, but also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Among the tools and resources that the initiative will provide are advanced energy design guides for small and large hospitals, technology assessments, and an interactive web site.
