An Energy Savings & Cost Reduction Prescription for Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals are among the most energy intensive facilities in the United States. With the rising cost of energy, many healthcare facilities are seeking ways to cut costs without compromising the quality of patient care. Below is a list of efficiency opportunities available in most hospitals, so you know what your options are.

Hospitals operate 24/7 and are occupied by thousands of employees, patients, and visitors each day. As a result, The U.S. Department of Energy’s Hospital Energy Alliance estimates that the nation’s healthcare facilities collectively spend more than $8 billion on energy each year.

To accomplish critical goals like patient care and safety, hospitals have very specific energy needs, including particular air flow controls and specialized HVAC systems. They also encompass many energy intensive activities such as laundry, medical and lab equipment use, sterilization, computer and server use, food service, and refrigeration.

With all of these operations occurring each day at every hospital, there are numerous opportunities to save energy. By investing in efficiency solutions and upgrading their systems, hospitals can save money that can be better utilized to achieve important goals, like investing in new technologies, enhancing patient care, reducing their carbon footprints, improving the air quality of their communities, and supporting their overarching commitment to public health. The seven best options for lowering these costs are listed below:

1 – Reduce Energy Costs with MicroNOC’s Clean Virtual Power (CVP™) Station

The number one energy savings opportunity (also approved by PG&E) is MicroNOC Inc.’s new 25% Off Electricity Cost Partnering Program. This new California wide program provides the largest energy savings potential without the need for solar, demand response, or rebates by utilizing MicroNOC’s trademarked energy storage system (ESS) and partnering program.

One of the primary reasons MicroNOC’s energy cost savings program was approved in 2018 by America’s largest utility provider Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is because it saves 25% on peak rates using behind-the-meter (BTM) clean energy for all types of industries and facilities. MicroNOC’s unique Clean Virtual Power (CVP™) Station and their 25% Off Electricity Cost Partnering Program provides the most reliable energy cost saving opportunity because they:

• Save 25% on peak electrical rates all year long • Require no ESS equipment to purchase, lease or maintain • Allow partners to save before they pay • Help balance electricity rates and the grid • Free-up funds for indirect spend costs (such as COVID-19) • Do not require solar, demand response, or rebates

As most FM’s already know, electricity rates will continue to rise for the foreseeable future, and on-peak demand and energy rates are already 3 to 4 times higher than off-peak rates due to a large spike in electricity demand gas ‘peaker’ plants utilization between 4 pm to 9 pm for added energy.

California’s electrical utility providers such as PG&E, SCE and SDG&E drastically increased their peak time-of-use (TOU) rates between the hours of 4 pm and 9 pm and more so between June through September causing a large spike in electric costs, and this 5-hour time period of highest utility costs is the focus of MicroNOC’s program.

There are other ways to cut down on hospital power consumption (but not without varying amounts of capital) so it makes sense to improve efficiencies across the board, and here are six other options to consider as follows: 2 – Upgrade to LED lighting

3 – Commit to HVAC modifications

4 – Tackle a chiller plant retrofit

5 – Optimize your building management system (BMS)

6 – Evaluate your data center for energy savings

7 – Consider a steam system retrofit

With their important mission to save and heal lives taking precedence, finding and approving the resources to improve energy efficiency in hospital facilities can be a tough sale for FM’s because of the upfront costs and potential disruption to activities.

However, that’s no longer the case when using MicroNOC’s first option (if existing peak time-of-use rates fall between 4 pm to 9 pm) because their 25% Off Electricity Cost Partnering Program requires NO capital investment, need for solar, or reliance on rebates. MicroNOC also makes it easy because they own, install, operate, and maintain their energy storage systems (ESS) for their energy saving partners.

Enroll in MicroNOC’s 25% Off Electricity Cost Partnering Program

If you would like to learn more about how to use less electricity and more efficiently to lower operation costs and improve cash flow, please check out the one-page flyer link at the Save 25% on Peak Rates Using Clean Energy flyer BUTTON below and then complete the one-minute Request for Preliminary Savings Report form BUTTON below and email it to corey@micronocinc.com. Registration is simple as these 5 steps:

1. Complete a Request for Preliminary Savings Report form.

2. Submit the request form with provide copies of electric utility bills.

3. You will be provided a custom Preliminary Savings Report (PSR).

4. Submit a Service Registration Form along with the Registration Fee.

5. You’re on your way to lower electric energy rates.

Article content provided Adam Fairbanks CEO at Fairbanks Energy Services on August 3, 2020 and supplemented by Corey Lee Wilson.