U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Program – EnergySmart Hospitals

Building Your Energy Management Program

A photo of a stethoscope.

Building systems are interdependent; improving hospital building design and operation depends on the development and coordination of energy-efficiency technologies across every major building system. Hospitals can proactively manage energy use by developing a comprehensive energy management program.

Whether building or retrofitting, once an energy management program is in place, information on energy use will:

  • Generate savings from reduced utility costs that can be redirected to mission-critical needs.
  • Provide indicators to perform predictive maintenance and reduce equipment downtime.
  • Create a basis for budgeting for future energy-efficiency and renewable energy improvements.
  • Promote an energy-efficiency mindset that will contribute to a more comfortable environment, promote faster healing, and increase staff satisfaction.

When building a new hospital or adding on to an existing facility, once construction is completed and occupancy of the new space begins, emphasis will shift to a key group: the Energy Management Program Team. This group, reflecting wide representation from across the hospital (see Step 3 below), will be charged with primary responsibility for the long-term success of all energy-efficiency planning and operations.

In the case of retrofits, energy-efficiency upgrades considered together in sequence will ensure building systems are right-sized and optimally used, and will avoid wasted improvement efforts and unnecessary expenses.

Chart listing eight steps in developing and implementing an energy management program. Step 1 is to establish target energy goals and baseline; step 2 is to model energy consumption and review; step 3 is to identify improvements; and step 4 is to develop financial analysis. Steps 5 and 6 are to select and implement activities; step 7 is to confirm performance, and step 8 is to perform necessary maintenance. The chart also states that, in planning new construction, teams should perform specific design reviews along the way.

Creating or strengthening an energy management program is an ongoing, cyclical process that begins with assessing an energy baseline and establishing target goals. Once improvements have been identified and implemented, regular monitoring confirms performance and leads into the next cycle of goal-setting and further improvements in cost and energy savings.



Getting Started: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Create Awareness of the Opportunity. Make the commitment to energy efficiency known to staff and provide visible leadership support.

Step 2: Perform Baseline Mapping. Consolidate energy use data and cost figures from throughout the hospital system into a broad and integrated hospital energy map.

Step 3: Develop a Compelling Vision. Organize your Energy Management Program Team with wide representation from across the hospital (finance, maintenance and facilities, purchasing, quality assurance, government relations, clinical operations, medical personnel). Charge the committee with developing a strategic plan and setting goals in alignment with your hospital's mission.

  • Include retrofitting, new construction, and operation of existing facilities in scope.
  • Incorporate relevant existing initiatives within the hospital system.

Step 4: Turn the Vision into Action. Establish metrics and implement a comprehensive "whole building" energy management program, addressing all building systems. Track, evaluate, and continue mapping and upgrading. Programs such as EPA's ENERGY STAR for Healthcare can help develop energy management guidelines and benchmarking tools.

A photo of a medical professional using an electronic device.

The Energy Management Program Team will be responsible for the development and implementation of each element of the hospital's ongoing energy management plan. They will determine target energy goals, monitor performance, identify improvements, and oversee energy-efficiency O&M training and periodic recommissioning. Over time, as the Energy Management Program Team verifies that all high-performance goals are being met, they will also assess occupant satisfaction and fine-tune the integration of every aspect of energy efficiency. Moving forward, the team will share feedback to identify approaches and solutions that continue to address challenges and target new opportunities for peak energy and cost savings.