Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston has been named the 2016 Energy Champion for demonstrating strong leadership in becoming a more energy efficient facility and using saved resources to support patient care. The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association recently recognized the hospital’s efforts at its 53rd Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition in Denver.
The Energy to Care program, sponsored by Johnson Controls, encourages hospitals across the country to reduce their energy consumption. Facilities that reduce energy by 10% or more over the previous year—and previous Energy to Care winners who go on to reduce consumption by an additional 5%—are eligible to win an Energy to Care Award.
This year marked the first time an Energy Champion was named. The Energy Champion Award recognizes a single facility that demonstrates outstanding leadership in energy efficiency. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston, part of Partners HealthCare, implemented a strategic energy master plan, and leadership communicated goals to staff, patients, and visitors. The facility department retro-commissioned its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and lighting control systems were optimized. Last year, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston reduced its energy use by nearly 15%.
“This year’s Energy Champion exemplifies the amazing efficiencies that can occur when hospital leaders, facility professionals, and everyone involved in the health care environment work together,” says Dale Woodin, CHFM, FASHE, American Hospital Association vice president of personal membership groups. “By reducing energy use in health care facilities, all of the Energy to Care Award recipients have provided value to their organizations while allowing additional resources to be directed toward patient care.”
In addition, 29 hospitals earned an Energy to Care Award for slashing energy use.
