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Whether you are building a new health care facility or renovating
an existing one, the building components you choose will have a
direct impact on your bottom line. Choosing energy-saving building
components is an opportunity to realize substantial returns, not
only in new construction or renovation projects, but also in maintenance
of existing buildings.
For example, smart choices for the building envelope—including
windows and doors, insulation, foundations, structural elements,
and roofing—can significantly reduce demands on HVAC and other
energy-using systems. For many buildings, installation of energy-efficient
lighting is one of the simplest ways to yield fast paybacks and
ongoing savings. Efficient lighting technologies such as T-8 and
compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), electronic ballasts, and solid-state
LED exit signs can significantly reduce your lighting consumption
and costs.
A Lighting
Calculator available on DOE's Federal Energy Management Program
(FEMP) Web site can help you estimate potential energy savings by
simply inputting your current lighting data. Energy-efficient lighting
technologies lower maintenance costs, too—these technologies
last significantly longer than standard fixtures. You can also multiply
your energy savings by looking beyond energy-efficient fixtures
to consider centralized lighting controls, occupancy sensors, and
other related energy-saving options.
For more in-depth information on energy-efficient lighting and
other building technologies, visit the Building Toolbox section
of this site. Choose
Building Components provides a comprehensive guide to the latest
information on:
- Appliances and Equipment
- Electricity
- Building Envelope: Windows, Doors, Insulation, Foundations,
Framing, Roofs
- Heating and Cooling Systems
- Lighting and Daylighting
- Water Heating
A helpful guide to purchasing energy-efficient
products can be found on DOE's FEMP Web site. FEMP's product
efficiency recommendations include cost-effectiveness examples,
buyer tips, and selection guidance. Energy cost calculators can
help you estimate the lifetime energy cost savings potential of
various products.
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Success
Story |
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VA Medical
Center, West Haven, Connecticut
Under an energy savings performance contract, the 590-bed
VA Medical Center in West Haven, Connecticut, replaced
approximately 8,500 incandescent and fluorescent light
fixtures with T-8 lamps, electronic ballasts, and metal
halide lamps and ballasts. The facility also replaced
incandescent exit signs with LED-type signs. This lighting
retrofit, plus a renovated chiller system, saved the
facility $550,000 per year in energy costs and substantially
improved patient and staff comfort. |
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