Conserve Energy and Fuel
By 2013, our goals are to conserve 7% more energy 6% more water and 30% more fuel. We also plan to reduce our drive alone commuters by 5%.
Over the last 6 years BIDMC has spent $8.9M on projects to modify the hospital systems that consume energy. Changes made to both our lighting and HVAC systems have saved so much energy we would have reduced our consumption by 12-15% if our patient volume and staffing levels had remained constant. With a growth rate of over 30% these changes have still enabled us to hold a 3% reduction. By October 2012 this reduction will reach 7%.
If you've been reading the announcements from many businesses and other hospitals to reduce their energy consumption by 25-50%, you may be wondering why we are proud of these smaller numbers and aren't announcing similarly ambitions plans. Here's why:
When looking to cut down on energy use there are two places to look: the machinery that produces the energy and the machinery that used the energy. If you've ever looked into projects in your own house you know that the opportunities to increase efficiencies by 25-50% come from changing the machinery that produces the energy. These are your burners, boilers and chillers. One of the best ways to get these large energy savings is to use the waste from one part of the production process to power a second part of the process instead of running two completely independent processes.
Here at BIDMC we have been using energy and steam generated in this efficient manner for years, but because we don't own the machinery, we don't get credit for the savings. Our electricity and steam come from the MATEP power plant, a small power plant across the street that was built to meet the energy needs of the hospitals and Harvard Med School. Because it is close enough to be part of our facility, the plant owns and controls all the boilers, burners and chillers that are running efficiently.
Despite the smaller scope for us to work within, we continue to look for ways to reduce our energy consumption. To publicly demonstrate this commitment we have signed onto the City's Green Ribbon Commission, which seeks to reduce energy consumption by at least 25% by 2015. Our intent is to get as close to that is possible, despite being limited to just one side of the energy consuming equation.
How you can help:
Steps already taken by BIDMC
- Lighting Efficiency - New lighting standards have been developed to ensure continued use of energy efficient alternatives. As of March 2008, approximately 65%-70% of BIDMC’s lights meet new energy standards.
- Lighting Controls - Light sensors are being deployed throughout BIDMC. They detect whether an area is occupied and turn off the lights when the area has been unoccupied for more than 5-20 minutes. Over 5,000 sensors have been installed in offices, clinic exam rooms, conference areas, etc.
- Vending Misers - BIDMC began a pilot program in 2006 to install occupancy sensor devices that automatically power down the vending machine after approximately 30 minutes of inactivity. We are in the process of rolling out the pilot program to over 26 vending machines, further saving energy.
- Print On Copiers - By networking existing copier machines directly to a group of PCs, employees can send all print tasks to a nearby copier at far less cost per page. In addition to conserving energy, there will be fewer printers and toner cartridges carted away to landfills.
- Elimination of CRTs - Conversion from cathode ray tube-based (CRT) to LCD flat panel computer monitors is good for the environment. By replacing approximately 7,000 CRT to flat panel monitor in 2007, we have lowered the annual electrical power consumption for computer monitors by more than half.
- Data Center Utilities - The Data Center reduced its utility consumption by consolidating servers, replacing older, less energy efficient devices, and reconfiguring equipments despite of growing electronic demand. Better thermal management (e.g. reducing under floor cables, using perforated inserts, shutting down an unneeded A/C unit, adjusting humidity stats, using blanking panels, etc.) also resulted better direct air flow and improved HVAC load.
- Multiple Energy Projects - BIDMC has been investing in multiple energy conservation projects that upgrade equipment and save electricity, chilled water, steam and water (resulting in $3m to $6m utility costs avoided annually). Steam piping insulation and steam trap repair, air quality optimization, variable speed drives and new motors, building controls and metering projects have all contributed millions of Btu’s and kWh’s saved.
- The Waterdrop Program - Since surveying and assessing its water use, the hospital has installed sterilizer condensate tempering control, low flow faucet ends and shower heads, and several other mechanical devices to reduce water consumption. The hospital has cut back water use by about 13%. At a rate of $13.27 per gallon for water and sewer, the estimated savings for this project is $142,000 per year. A simple payback of less than one year. Also, using less water reduces the amount of pumping to the hospital, within the hospital, and at sewer lift stations, about 89 million pounds of fluid each year, saving a significant amount of electricity.
