Health care facilities around the country have cut their energy consumption by 10 percent or more, bringing environmental benefits to their communities and allowing more hospital resources to be directed toward patient care.

The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association is recognizing the hospitals’ efforts as part of its Energy Efficiency Commitment (E2C) program. The program encourages hospitals across the country to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent or more over a 12-month period in support of the goals of the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Challenge.

“These hospitals should be celebrated for making energy efficiency commitments that have shown real results,” said ASHE Executive Director Dale Woodin, CHFM, FASHE. “Hospitals across the country may face different energy challenges, depending on their location, age, and other factors. But the E2C program shows that health care facilities can significantly cut energy use regardless of their situation, and the first step is making a commitment to do so.”

The hospitals used various strategies to save energy. ASHE outlines many hospital energy-saving strategies on its recently expanded Sustainability Roadmap website at www.sustainabilityroadmap.org.

Several facilities have been previously recognized through the program for lowering energy consumption and were recognized again this spring for saving even more energy. The E2C program recognizes repeat winners who reduce energy consumption by an additional 5 percent or more.

ASHE recognized the following hospitals for their leadership in reducing energy consumption:
• Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, reduced energy use by 25 percent.
• St. Elizabeth Edgewood Hospital in Edgewood, Ky., reduced energy use by 25 percent.
• St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas Hospital in Ft. Thomas, Ky., reduced energy use by 10 percent.
• St. Elizabeth Florence Hospital in Florence, Ky., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, reduced energy use by 30 percent.
• Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, Wis., reduced energy use by 20 percent.
• Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., reduced energy use by 10 percent.
• Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., reduced energy by 15 percent.
• Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown in Greenville, S.C., reduced energy by 10 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Westside Hospital in Houston, Texas, reduced energy by 5 percent.
• Memorial Hermann Southwest Medical Plaza 4 in Houston, Texas, reduced energy by 15 percent.
• Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Ill., reduced energy use by 20 percent.
• Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., reduced energy use by 10 percent.
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Ill., reduced energy use by 20 percent.
• Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., reduced energy use by 20 percent.
 
In addition to the facilities recognized in April, ASHE also congratulates hospitals recognized in late 2012 and early 2013 for energy savings, including:
• Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., reduced energy use by 25 percent.
• Texas Children’s Hospital – West Tower in Houston, Texas, reduced energy use by 15 percent.
• Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center in Sheboygan, Wis., reduced energy use by 15 percent.
• Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wis., reduced energy use by 15 percent.