Energy-efficiency retrofits can help reduce healthcare costs
Reducing energy consumption through energy-efficiency retrofits represents an underappreciated way to cut healthcare costs, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. U.S. healthcare facilities spend $8.8 billion per year on energy, a figure that could be cut dramatically. A case in point: Greenwich (Conn.) Hospital implemented a deep energy retrofit and saved more than 1.7 million kWh and $303,000 of electricity per year, nearly doubled its ENERGY STAR rating to 88, and reduced its overall energy consumption by 35% with a less-than-six-month payback on the effort.