Analysis of hospital energy audits

Abstract

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) staff conducted energy audits at 48 hospitals in four states between 1978 and 1980. The energy audits show an average potential energy saving of almost 100 kBtu/ ft 2 (1.1 GJ/m 2), a 20% reduction. The variation among hospitals is large; the range is from 6% to 49% of baseline energy use. The cost to implement all these conservation practices and measures is quite low, only 25 ¢/ft 2 ($2.65/m 2), which implies an average payback period of only one year. Analysis of the audit results shows that the potential energy saving increases with baseline energy use and decreases with fuel price. This suggests that large energy savings will be found at hospitals that are particularly energy-intensive and that have low fuel prices.