The 2021 Hospital Energy and Water Benchmarking Survey by Grumman|Butkus Associates found that U.S. hospitals’ use of fossil fuels is declining since the inception of the annual survey 25 years ago, but electricity use is dipping more slowly.
The average combined Btu/ft2 (electricity plus gas/steam) for participating facilities was 236,743 in this year’s survey, up from 233,491 in 2019. “However, interpretation of year-to-year trends should be tempered by the realization that the respondent pool for the 2021 survey was different from the pool from the 2020 edition, due to the stresses that COVID-19 response placed on the healthcare facility personnel who normally participate, particularly during 2019,” according to a news release.
Hospitals’ average carbon footprint has remained fairly steady at 50 to 60 pounds of CO2 equivalent per square foot per year since GBA began calculating carbon data in 1999. CO2 footprint in 2020 was up from a low in 2019 (likely attributable to a change in respondents for the 2020 survey), but still shows an 18% decrease from 2018.
“To meet the ambitious goals put forth by the Biden Administration, hospitals will have to achieve much more significant reductions in the near term,” says GBA-Illinois Chairman Dan Doyle. “These reductions can only be achieved by implementing larger and more costly retrofits of existing buildings.
“The drive to decarbonize will also require building owners to embrace fuel switching to renewable-based energy sources. Many leading healthcare systems are implementing on-site renewables (usually solar photovoltaic systems), as well as off-site renewables, often funded through Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to purchase some or all of their electricity.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Aug 15, 2019
New edition of Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete available
American Concrete Institute document includes major technical changes.
Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2019
Coaching pays off for new managers
Study finds increased engagement and readiness for new roles.
Codes and Standards | Aug 12, 2019
New curtain wall design guidelines released
AAMA document includes mandatory language, optional language, and detailed technical commentary.
Codes and Standards | Aug 9, 2019
Cities modify density zoning to spur more affordable housing projects
Solutions include eliminating single-family zoning and allowing taller apartments in higher-density zones.
Codes and Standards | Aug 8, 2019
More designers focusing on acoustic properties of buildings
Recognition that structures should be acoustically satisfying.
Codes and Standards | Aug 7, 2019
Illinois law makes all single-occupancy restrooms gender-neutral
All must comply by January 1.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2019
New technology, aligning training with local trends among keys to workforce development
Construction industry must also invest in training, recruiting high school students.
Codes and Standards | Aug 1, 2019
Planners, city official rethink parking requirements on new projects
Reducing number of parking spots frees up land for ‘more purposeful’ uses.
Codes and Standards | Jul 31, 2019
USGBC-LA chooses first ‘Net Zero Accelerator’ technologies
Wide range of solutions address numerous environmental challenges.
Codes and Standards | Jul 30, 2019
Solar brokerage will provide financing for small/medium businesses
First to fund solar for smaller-scale commercial operations.
