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Question: What is Children's doing to be more energy efficient?
Answer: Energy is a word that has been on everyone’s mind. It seems that energy has been the front-page news this past year with the energy crisis and the rising costs of fuel, both for our automobiles and our homes. At Children’s Hospital Boston, we have been extremely aware of the rising costs to our annual Utility Budget and the impact it has on the hospital’s growing expenses and we strive to be as energy efficient as possible.
We must not confuse energy efficiency with energy reduction. Although we strive to reduce our annual energy costs, we must maintain a comfort level for our patients and staff that will not inconvenience anyone, nor make us incompliant and regulatory compliances dictate certain air exchange rates that we must maintain. We could certainly be more energy efficient if we all reduced lighting levels in work areas or reduced temperatures, but we want to maintain a work place that is comfortable for all of us.
Steps being taken
- The hospital capital budget projects to reduce inefficient lighting, motors, insulation and controls in our older facilities.
- Use energy efficient standards in all new projects.
- Use energy rebate programs wherever we qualify and software programs that reduce computer energy waste.
- Our ongoing energy audits identify saving potentials.
- A recent energy campaign was designed to arouse interest and behavior through individual energy habits.
- We’ll have lobby fairs for employees to expose new technologies and allow utility companies to be present to interact with employees.
- A highly complex building control system will maintain temperatures.
- New roofing systems can eliminate thermal loss.
Some of our best weapons against wasting energy rest in each individual employees. By doing the following each day, we can increase our energy efficiency:
- Turn off lights when leaving office or restrooms or whenever area is unattended.
- Use natural lighting whenever possible.
- Turn off personal office equipment when not in use.
- Use compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) in personal lamps.
Thanks for asking!
Paul Williams, director of Engineering, and Jack Connerty of Engineering and energy conservation coordinator
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