Hospitals don’t just save lives, they save energy and they save the environment

Hospitalsare major energy consumers, they have lights on day and night, computers and other monitors running 24 seven. Patients need to be fed and cleaned and it has been estimated that about 60% of all energy is spent on heating water. Because of the industry we are dealing with reducing energy costs and making savings is not a high priority at all since the well being of patients comes first.

The truth is that with increases in electric costs hospitals have seen a huge increase in their energy bills; some say as much as 60% in the last 3 years. According to experts, hospitals can make a saving of as much as 30% on their utilities without compromising on their patient’s needs and the quality of their care.

For a hospital the recommendation is to install energy saving equipment since an investment on ‘going green’ has a rebate of 30%. In addition to this the value of the building increases. For every £100 that is saved from using the energy reducing equipment, the value increases by £2,000.

Installation of this kind of equipment is costly but it has been worked out by analysts working specifically on a project for hospitals that they can expect to make a return on their investment in just under 6 years. These installations include:

.Using barrier paint for the roofs. White is the best colour since it reflects the light and heat from the sun and allows the temperature inside the building to be better controlled. This paint will prevent the building from getting too hot and too cold. The same result comes from using additional insulation in ceilings and walls.
.  Instead of using blinds which typically block out sunlight or a much needed view for a bed ridden patient, use awnings on the outside of windows and doors.
.  Use greener energy sources for example wind energy. A hospital is large enough with above average energy consumption to justify the installation of a wind turbine. A single 250kwh turbine can save an average sized hospital of 500 beds £12 000 a month.
.  Using a wind turbine creates a by product called dump load heat which provides a free alternative to electrical air conditioning.
.  Use energy efficient lighting throughout the building. These building spend about a quarter of energy on lighting and a total upgrade can make a major dent in the monthly bill.

Upgrading hospital facilities definitely seems the way to go when it comes to energy savings. Large investments have a high return and the focus on reducing their carbon footprint hospitals can now save money too.

Hospitals can affect further saving by switching energy providers, looking at the services of an energy broker such as PCM Switch to do a price comparison; they offer a free service, impartial in their recommendation to ensure that you the customer will save up to 70% on your energy bills. Contact PCM Switch Today.