Healthcare Lighting
U.S. hospitals spend over $5 billion annually on energy, often equaling one to three percent of a typical hospital’s operating budget or an estimated 15 percent of profits.
Healthcare lighting is a significant component of the facility energy use, representing more than 10 percent of energy consumption. Further, healthcare lighting boosts the demand for cooling because every watt of electricity used for lighting generates heat. Energy-efficient lighting strategies, whether used in new construction or in retrofits of existing facilities, yield major savings and have a short payback period.
Today’s lighting best practices and technologies can dramatically improve the energy performance of new and retrofitted hospitals. These are highlighted below.
• Specify and provide multiple levels of light—both general ambient and task lighting—in patient and exam rooms. In patient rooms, bright lights can be turned on during examinations but remain off the rest of the time. “Downtime” Healthcare lighting permits patients to rest while lowering energy usage.
• Consolidate lamp inventories by eliminating unnecessary bulb types (different bulbs with the same purpose).
• Maximize matte or diffuse light-colored surfaces to encourage effective glare-free day lighting. Adopt a lighting strategy for a facility that can be integrated into future designs. A strategy should standardize technologies, apply control measures consistently (e.g., dimming, occupancy sensors, day lighting), and ensure a consistent look and feel throughout the hospital.
When implemented as part of a facility-wide energy management program, a lighting strategy can help hospitals proactively manage energy use. Information generated through the program can help hospitals to redirect energy savings to patient care. This information also provides predictive maintenance indicators, helping the hospital to reduce equipment downtime. A Health Care Facility must meet the unique needs of patients, staff, and visitors. Smart Energy Technologies will help you bring it all into balance. Our design team will customize your energy solution that keeps your patients, staff and visitors comfortable and safe, while minimizing energy use and increasing operational efficiency to help meet your hospital’s green building and financial goals.
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