Energy efficiency is about getting the most out of your limited budget. When your equipment is operating at ideal settings, you get the best energy savings possible. With health care reform poised to change the way medicine is practiced, thousands of newly insured patients will soon create unprecedented demand. Altered-fee structures and penalty payments, aimed at enhancing patient safety and quality of care will put pressure on cost containment in other areas. 

A strategic approach to reducing power consumption

Because systems draw so much power across health care settings, even slight operating improvements can yield significant cost savings. 

Eaton offers the following measures to help your facility operate at maximum efficiency:

• Thorough assessment of facility and equipment to identify opportunities for energy savings 
• Lighting retrofits that reduce power consumption and meet strict hospital requirements 
  
• Metering and monitoring equipment that allows for continuous observation of building performance 
  
• Management of HVAC fans via variable frequency drives (VFDs) allowing a 10–50 percent reduction in energy costs
  

Eaton recommendations 

Lighting

In specialized settings like health care facilities, lighting can account for 43 percent of annual electricity use. Understanding your lighting needs and implementing energy-efficient lighting solutions can help you save money. Lowering the lighting energy will also have a positive effect on lowering the cooling load in summer. 

Offering the most comprehensive health care product line in the marketplace today, Cooper Lighting is your one source for hospital lighting solutions. From lobbies to exterior applications, Cooper has products to meet the specific requirements of hospitals, surgery centers, MRI facilities and other health care environments.

Energy metering and monitoring 

Monitoring power quality and energy consumption of facilities can be done from a single console, either on-site or remotely. With this capability, building owners are able to measure, sense and trend how the building is operating and performing. 

Variable frequency drives (VFDs)

VFDs optimize power consumed by HVAC fans, speeding up or slowing down the fan based on climate demands. Eaton offers several VFDs designed specifically for hospital settings. These ultraefficient drives offer flexibility and adaptability for many applications including positive/negative pressure and isolation environments. 

Managing HVAC fans speeds can save you 10–50 percent in energy costs. Eaton’s H-MaxE drives save an additional 4–10 percent over conventional drives, speeding payback and reducing energy costs even further.

Because we examine all possible useEaton has a wide range of products and solutions that can help measure, plan, allocate, purchase and reduce energy consumption. In addition, our services can qualify your building for up to 48 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits. Because we examine all possible uses of power within your system, we get a more complete view of your energy expenditures and more chances to reduce waste. We also offer energy bill assessments to check that your charges are valid. In other words, energy expenses are not a fixed cost, and you should never resign yourself to spending too much.

Save money with efficient products and solutions 

Eaton has a wide range of products and solutions that can help measure, plan, allocate, purchase and reduce energy consumption. In addition, our services can qualify your building for up to 48 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits. 

Because we examine all possible uses of power within your system, we get a more complete view of your energy expenditures and more chances to reduce waste. We also offer energy bill assessments to check that your charges are valid. In other words, energy expenses are not a fixed cost, and you should never resign yourself to spending too much.

Case study 

Hoag Hospital West Tower—Newport Beach, CA 

• Size: 10-story, 144,000-sq-ft building 
• Problem: HVAC systems operating at full capacity throughout the year regardless of changes in temperature or occupancy 
• Solution: a full retro-commissioning study 
• Estimated total cost: $25,498 
• Estimated total annual savings: $64,605