|
Industry
Experts Answer Your Facility Compliance Questions.
Energy
Efficiency Maintenance in Healthcare Facilities
Reproduction
of this article by permission from FacilityCare magazine.
Copyright 2004, Douglas Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
For subscription information, go to www.facilitycare.com.
How
Can I Best Manage my Energy Costs and Physical Plant in an
Increasingly Unpredictable Energy Market?
When it
comes to managing energy costs, the healthcare industry faces
unique challenges. As a 24/7 mission-critical operation, energy
needs consume a significant portion of the operating budget.
The unpredictability of energy markets from state to state
puts additional strain on an industry that is the second largest
consumer of power in the country.
While
deregulation of electricity in some states has led to more
competitive pricing to the benefit of healthcare facilities,
events in other states, such as California and New Jersey,
demonstrate that this is not always the case. Regardless of
deregulation status, increasingly volitile energy markets
are fueled by electric demand that is outpacing supply and
record price increases in natural gas, which is now a major
contributor in electric generation.
However,
as more states move toward deregulation, healthcare facilities
with sophisticated building automation and effecient energy
assets, including upgraded, onsite power generation capabilities,
have greater opportunities for substantial reduction in energy
costs. With physical plants and generation systems that are
maintained, managed and operated correctly, facility managers
can often improve the reliability of energy-consuming equipment
while reducing costs. The ability to periodically generate
on-site and control load at the right times creates opportunities
to reduce energy rates with suppliers and utilities. With
more predictable enegy costs, the financial risk for hospitals
is lowered because they are no longer held victim to volatile
market pricing. Turning to onsite generation also ensures
backup systems will be available when needed. Unfortunately,
some onsite hospital energy systems suffer from deferred maintenance
and may not perform when needed. Others have insufficient
load capacity because of additions to the facility.
Managing
the whole energy process requires an integrated energy management
stategy that includes supply management, energy-consuming
asset management to make sure systems are running at peak
efficiency and ongoing, active demand management that gives
hospitals the real-time information they need. The strategy
should include answers to these questions:
Where
are we consuming power?
What are
the fluctuations in market pricing?
How will
weather impact the facility?
Facilities
can control their energy costs regardless of deregulation
by understanding their energy usage patterns and designing
solutions that mesh energy strategy with overall organizational
objectives. A sound, integrated energy management strategy
can leverage your organization's operational investment and
significantly reduce your risk. The underlying benefit is
the ability to focus other energies and resources toward optimum
patient comfort and care.
Article
written by Kent Anson, Honeywell Integrated Energy Services
Energy
Efficiency Calculators
- improve energy efficiency in piping system design, motors
and compressed air systems.
|
