While hospitals have made progress in identifying energy efficiencies and implementing energy reduction programs, their efforts do not usually go beyond infrastructure and equipment, according to a blog on the FacilityCare website.
According to Yaniv Vardi, CEO of Panoramic Power, the advent of circuit-level energy monitoring has allowed facility managers to view energy-use data by each individual device and to track use in a particular area.
"When wireless sensors are installed on each circuit of a building, the comprehensive, real-time data available shows energy-use patterns and inconsistencies that can identify opportunities for savings. Alerts are sent on the fly when exceptions occur, when energy thresholds are reached and when common patterns are not followed. Analyzing alerts allows the diagnosing of widespread problems, short-term incidences and long-term trends — all data that informs energy planning," Vardi wrote.
The sensors can also detect equipment failures, allowing repair rather than replacement, the blog said.
When managers understand the energy use of each area of their facility, they get a more complete picture of how the building performs. This knowledge can mean more efficient operations and maintenance protocols, as well as the capital spending for upgrades and retrofits, Vardi said.
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