Con Edison offers a cure for energy costs in hospitals, medical offices

The healthcare industry spends $8.8 billion a year on energy, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.1 But hospitals and other medical facilities can cut their costs while also providing a more comfortable environment for patients, visitors and staff just by using less energy. In fact, the U.S. EPA's Energy Star program reports that every $1 a nonprofit healthcare organization saves on energy is equivalent to $20 in new revenue for hospitals or $10 for medical offices. The agency also reports that for-profit hospitals, medical offices, and nursing homes can boost earnings per share by an average of a penny by reducing energy costs just 5%.2 Con Edison promotes energy efficiency and can help hospitals and other medical facilities find ways to save on electricity and gas and then save money on putting those solutions in place. Hospitals that are gas or electric customers of Con Edison may be eligible for cash rebates for upgrades to lighting, building management systems, central utility plants, electrical transformers, motors, VFDs and other equipment. These upgrades will reduce energy use, lower operating costs, and help the environment. The Con Edison green team offers incentives and technical expertise through its Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Energy Efficiency Program. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations can take advantage of this program to offset equipment replacement costs, enhance infrastructure and comply with local laws and industry regulations. Hospitals can save up to 50%, or up to $67,000, off the cost of an in-depth energy audit that will recommend steps the organization can take to save energy and money. Hospital and medical facilities can also get performance-based incentives for installing energy-efficient technologies not covered under the Equipment Rebate Program. The C&I Custom Program focuses on total energy savings per project - ideal for data centers and mission critical facilities. Program participants also have access to Con Edison's Market Partners, a network of more than 600 energy professionals who can help identify and implement energy-efficiency solutions. Some of our market partners specialize in medical facilities, and can help identify energy savings for the operating requirements of hospitals. 1. Source: EIA, CBECS 2003, Adjusted for inflation to 2008 dollars. 2. Source: EPA, assumes a 5% and 10% operating margin respectively. www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=healthcare.bus_healthcare David Pospisil is program manager of Con Edison's C&I Energy Efficiency Program, New York, N.Y.