The Impact of Healthcare

The healthcare sector is itself a major energy user. In Europe, it provides 2.8 million hospital beds. According to a German study, one hospital bed uses c. 29,000 kilowatt/hours heat and 6,000 kWh electricity per year, or as much energy as two newly-built family homes.

The National Health Service (NHS) Sustainable Development Unit in the UK has calculated its carbon footprint at more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 each year — 25% of total public spending. Despite missing data from other EU countries, it would appear safe to assume that other healthcare systems in Europe are also using large amounts of energy.

European energy efficiency policies like the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and its measures, the Energy Performance of Buildings and the Renewable Energy Directives and product policies are instruments which should improve energy efficiency and savings and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by Europe's hospitals and care homes.

The best business model for hospitals in financial terms is a sustainable approach and healthcare leaders and providers need to get the right information to allow them to shift to this business practice.

Heating and Climate in the OR

In the Bethel Berlin hospital, the use of combined heat and power units as well as the substitution of old pumps by modern speed-controlled ones in the heating system provide enormous savings. In the Hubertus Protestant Hospital, the efficiency of the cooling units will is increased by about one third during the transitional seasons. Moreover, a subsurface rainwater tank serves as a reservoir for park irrigation and, in emergency cases, it can be used by the fire brigade for immediate fire fighting. Thus both hospitals in Berlin are able to reduce their water and energy costs by some hundred thousand Euros and to use the saved money where it is most needed - in the care sector.