Energy Consumption in Hospitals

Abstract

Hospitals or health care buildings are social facilities designed to operate in general over 24 hours/day. Improving the energy efficiency of these facilities is an economic, environmental and societal challenge. This work aims at identifying the critical energy performance indicators in hospitals which could be monitored and optimized for an efficient energy management. This paper suggest an optimal approach for good practices of energy consumption in hospitals, especially, in Morocco. For energy optimization, it is wise to start by quantification and monitoring of energy performances indicators including the energy consumption of the most significant energy uses. The old health buildings were designed mainly according to criteria related to a care quality and service but the energy performance criteria was rarely studied. Hence, this strategy often leads a conception of infrastructure with significant and un-optimized energy consumption. Therefore, the energy consumptions were not the object of particular attention and the needs, no longer mastered, resulting in significant costs. The objective is to define the relevant factors, which significantly impact the energy performance. In this paper a methodology on understanding energy uses and evaluation of energy performance levels is developed for achievement of desired economic performance while preserving or even improve the comfort of patients and medical staff, the continuity of service and the of hygiene and safety level.