“In this tough economy budgets are being cut as revenues are decreasing; however, there are still ways to save energy and use fewer resources,” said Benny Stansbury, director of facilities at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital.
“The rigid performance standards are the same every year, but everything else is subject to change,” Stansbury continued. “With the unpredictable weather and uncertain revenue we just have to tighten our belts, make sure we challenge ourselves to stay within the guidelines and still maintain a patient-friendly environment.”
The engineering department at Memorial Hermann Northwest implements numerous features to reduce energy consumption and create a more patient-friendly environment, including:
- Installing several new energy efficient heat recovery wheels to significantly reduce the capacity and energy needed from the mechanical HVAC system.
- Tracking utilities and Btu/square-foot usage from one month to the next.
- Maintaining high-efficiency heating systems that have reduced natural gas consumption by 30 percent and virtually eliminated greenhouse gas emissions.
- Regulating air conditioning and heating systems to minimize electricity usage while maintaining hospital visitors’ comfort.
“We strive for the Energy Star every year,” Stansbury said. “Reaching our goal means maximizing efficiencies and looking for ways to save money without compromising the safety and comfort of our patients, visitors and staff.”
The Energy Star label is awarded to facilities that are in the top 25 percent of their peers in energy efficiency according to EPA’s energy performance scale. This allows facilities to save energy, money and help fight climate change.
The EPA is a national organization designed to protect human health and the environment by providing proven energy management strategies and free tools for public and private organizations to save energy and money through increased energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.epa.gov.
For more information on Memorial Hermann Northwest, visit www.memorialhermann.org or call 713.867.2000.