As hospital leaders look to reduce costs without impacting quality of care, experts suggest they look at their energy use, according to an article on the Crain's Chicago Business website.
One of the first steps hospitals can take is to turn off unneeded lights. Beyond that, facilities can try motion sensors to switch off lights when rooms aren't in use or fans that slow airflow in unoccupied rooms, the article said.
NorthShore University Health System spends roughly $20 million a year on utilities for its four hospitals. It is replacing operating room lights with LED bulbs that don't emit as much heat.
Hospitals can find other ways to save 30 percent of their annual energy costs by implementing guidelines suggested in U.S. Department of Energy's "Advanced Energy Retrofit Guide for Healthcare Facilities," according to an article on the FierceHealthcare website.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease on the Rise
BayCare Reveals Pagidipati Children's Hospital at St. Joseph's
Preparing for the Hazards of Winter Weather
Why Identity Governance Is Becoming a Facilities Management Issue
Habitat Health Opens South Los Angeles PACE Center