Less Steam, Please: Thermal Power Reduction In Health Care
It might seem like an odd objective, but the potential efficiency gains are real. And from heat recovery chillers to modified humidification targets so are the opportunities to replace steam production with hot water generation and to manage remaining steam needs more intelligently.
The production of thermal power is critically important in carrying out the mission of health care facilities where it is used for space heating, humidification, domestic water heating, and for processes in dietary, laundry, and sterilization departments. The age of the hospital, the programs offered, and the regional climate will all affect the demand for thermal power.
The Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) data showed that large hospitals accounted for 2% of all commercial floor space, but consumed 4.3% of total commercial sector energy use in 2003. By 2007, CBECS data indicated that this share had increased to 5.5% of commercial building sector energy use.1