Net-Zero Strategies for Hospitals | 2020-06-17 [Video]

As one of the most energy-intensive facilities in our communities, hospitals require around-the-clock functionality, which means inevitable energy use that often results in elevated and unnoticed consumption. 

The benefits of net-zero buildings have been proven with residential and light commercial facilities. But, with the high energy intensity of a hospital typically located on a restrained site, a net-zero hospital raises new challenges for project design teams.

To reduce operating costs and support sustainability, many hospitals are investing in projects to reduce energy consumption. If a hospital can trim its energy use by 20%, the existing equipment can last longer, and, in the event of an extended utility interruption, it can help more patients while on emergency power. Reduced energy consumption also avoids emissions from traditional energy sources, which cause climate change and have quantifiable health impacts.

For a hospital to “first, do no harm,” in the world of health care, …