Thirty-three healthcare facilities in six states won recognition Wednesday from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association for cutting their energy consumption by more than 10 percent. The accomplishment not only benefits the environment, but also allows hospitals to direct more resources to patient care.
The recognition from ASHE is part of the society's Energy Efficiency Commitment (E2C) program, which encourages hospitals across the country to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent or more in support of the goals of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR Challenge. ASHE has been recognizing hospitals for their commitment to energy efficiency since 2006, said ASHE Executive Director Dale Woodin.
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"Each of the hospitals has demonstrated a significant commitment to energy efficiency over an extended period of time,” said Woodin. “We believe that the recognition of outstanding outcomes is a motivator (to other hospitals). We have seen many instances where one hospital receiving recognition has the effect of encouraging other hospitals in the area or within their system to also strive for the award. We often find that an award recipient continues to reduce their energy consumption after the award is presented."
The 33 hospitals, which were recognized by ASHE ahead of Earth Day on April 22, used various strategies to save energy. Woodin said often it is a hospital-wide focus on energy efficiency in day-to-day operations that saves the most energy.
“We have primarily seen an intense focus on operational efficiency, ranging from lighting control to stringent control of temperature and air flow,” said Woodin. “Because hospitals operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, becoming more efficient can lead to tremendous savings of resources.”
"ASHE is a long-standing partner of EPA's ENERGY STAR program and their E2C award winning hospitals demonstrate that energy efficiency is one of the fastest and easiest ways to save money, protect the climate and improve the health of all Americans," said Clark Reed, national program manager for ENERGY STAR Commercial Building Outreach at the U.S. EPA, in a written statement.
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Several facilities have been previously recognized through the program for lowering energy consumption and were recognized again this spring for saving even more energy. “We often see repeat winners in spite of the fact that we require further reductions of 5 percent or more to qualify for the award again,” said Woodin.
ASHE recognized the following hospitals for their leadership in reducing energy consumption over a 12-month period:
• Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., reduced energy by 20 percent.
• Park Ridge Health in Fletcher, N.C., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Vineland, N.J., reduced energy by 25 percent.
• Good Samaritan in Cincinnati, Ohio, reduced energy by 20 percent.
• Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, reduced energy by 20 percent.
• Texas Children's Hospital West Tower in Houston reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital in The Woodlands, Tex., reduced energy by 20 percent
• Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center in Houston reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center Heart and Vascular Institute in Houston reduced energy by 20 percent.
• TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston reduced energy by 20 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in Houston reduced energy by 15 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southwest Heart and Vascular Institute in Houston reduced energy by 25 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital in Sugar Land, Tex., reduced energy by 20 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Prevention and Recovery Center in Houston reduced energy by 35 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital in Humble, Tex., reduced energy by 25 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center in Houston reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Northwest MP1 in Houston reduced energy by 15 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Northwest MP2 in Houston reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southeast MP1 in Houston reduced energy by 25 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Sugar Land MP1 in Sugar Land, Tex., reduced energy by 30 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southwest MP1 in Houston reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southwest MP2 in Houston reduced energy by 30 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southwest MP3 in Houston reduced energy by 30 percent.
• Memorial Hermann The Woodlands MP1 in The Woodlands, Tex., reduced energy by 20 percent.
• Memorial Hermann The Woodlands MP3 in The Woodlands, Tex., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Westside MP1 in Houston reduced energy by 25 percent.
• Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Ill., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Advocate Eureka Hospitals in Eureka, Ill., reduced energy by 15 percent.
• Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago reduced energy by 15 percent.
• Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., reduced energy by 15 percent.
•Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago reduced energy by 20 percent.
Follow HFN Associate Editor Kelsey Brimmer on Twitter @kbrimmerhfn.
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