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EnergySmart Hospitals

EnergySmart Hospitals is supporting our nation's hospitals with the tools and resources needed to integrate energy-efficiency and renewable energy technologies into design, construction, retrofit, and operations and maintenance. Through partnerships, design support, training, and outreach, EnergySmart Hospitals is validating the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy as highly effective strategies that are impacting bottom lines and helping hospitals meet mission-critical goals. More

Why EnergySmart Hospitals?

  • Improved profitability
  • Reduced impact of volatile energy costs
  • Lower operations and maintenance costs
  • Improved environmental performance
  • Reduced carbon footprint
  • Healthier healing and work environment
  • Healthier communities

On this site you can learn more about:

A photo of a light bulb with a dollar sign, representing energy efficiency.

Energy Management Plan: Making the "business case" to hospital leaders is the crucial first step in energy-efficiency planning; step two is building or strengthening your hospital's Energy Management Program.





A picture of a red control panel that is used in the operation of a hospital power plant.

Technology Focus: While quick wins in key technologies can help facility managers and operators get started with early energy and cost-saving successes that can serve as the foundation for future improvements, longer-term strategies must also be identified and implemented. EnergySmart Hospitals is currently developing both quick-win and long-term energy-efficiency resource materials on technologies including lighting, building envelope, HVAC, heating and cooling, plug loads, and water efficiency.



A photo of a large crane standing over a construction site.

Design, Construction, and Renovation: Integrated Building Design (IBD) is a process that unites people, systems, business structures, and practices from pre-design through operation and maintenance of a new building to achieve a more reliable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient facility. EnergySmart Hospitals has developed tips to help hospital owners, designers, and architects successfully use Integrated Building Design in constructing high-performance hospitals. For facility renovation, some quick win solutions are outlined that are easily implemented and yield shorter payback periods, demonstrating commitment and earning credibility with upper management.



A photo of a monitor that is part of a chiller.

Operation and Maintenance: The final essential element in effective hospital energy management is energy-efficient operations and maintenance. Determining targeted energy goals, monitoring performance, identifying improvements, and overseeing energy-efficiency O&M training and periodic recommissioning are each part of an ongoing commitment. Identifying approaches and solutions that continue to address challenges and take advantage of new opportunities will pay off by delivering peak energy and cost savings.


A picture of the cover of a manuel called Advanced Energy Design Guides for Small Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities.

Resources: Case studies, Advanced Energy Design Guides for both small (2009) and large (2010) hospitals, technology assessments, and a series of fact sheets on systems and strategies are among the tools and resources being created to support healthcare sector leaders in increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions to advance every hospital's goal of promoting a healthy environment for patients, staff, and community.