Hospital energy savings: cost benefits and fewer CO2 emissions

Signing a Declaration of Intent

During these Energy Master Classes, hospitals exchange experience and know-how. Alexandra Van Huffelen, the Rotterdam alderman for sustainability, inner city and public spaces said: "What is special about this initiative is that the hospitals in the Rijnmond area are seeking out each other's expertise. They are all benefiting from an insider's perspective. Their energy bills go down as they save on their energy consumption; with an average of 150,000 euros per hospital. Additionally, they are contributing to the Rotterdam Climate Initiative objective to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025."

Declaration of Intent

To show that they mean business, the hospitals recently signed a declaration of intent. In the Declaration, they stated that they will continue to share their knowledge and expertise. Each hospital will set down their ambitions in an energy savings plan. The Declaration was also signed by the Ministry of the Interior that develops national legal and regulatory provisions designed to encourage energy savings in urban areas. The ministry wants to emphasize that it values energy savings. 

Hospitals focus primarily on delivering high quality care at an affordable price. There was never a real need to save on energy consumption in the past. Reliable delivery of care was a far more important topic of interest. However, the focus is changing. As a result of the increasing costs of hospital care, energy savings are gaining interest. Although the cost savings may be limited in relation to the total costs of a hospital, absolute amounts may still be considerable.

Bulk consumers

Of all the buildings in the Rotterdam, Spijkenisse, Capelle aan den IJssel, and Schiedam municipalities, the hospitals take up approx. 4% of the total energy consumption. The Rijnmond hospitals emit approximately 125,000 tons of CO2 each year. This is according to a recent study by the DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond. An increasing demand for care and a more intense use of equipment will lead to higher energy consumption in the coming years. Jan Van Den Heuvel, DCMR Director: "Hospitals are legally required to take structural energy saving measures. It is stipulated in their environmental permit.

What now?

In 2012, the hospitals developed an energy saving strategy. They are supported by the DCMR and TNO DuCHA, who will monitor the results of the strategy and the energy consumption of the hospitals.

Organisation and participants

The master classes are organised as part of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Organisation of the master classes was a joint effort from DCMR Environmental Service Rijnmond, TNO DuCHA, and Agentschap NL. By order of the government, Agentschap NL is using its own knowledge and expertise to support the branch-wide strategy, Hospitals in Rotterdam (Erasmus MC, Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Havenziekenhuis, the Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam, Maasstad Ziekenhuis, and Ikazia Ziekenhuis), Schiedam (Vlietland ziekenhuis), Capelle a/d IJssel (IJsselland Ziekenhuis) and Spijkenisse (Ruwaard van Putten Ziekenhuis) all took part in the strategy. The energy savings of the hospitals will contribute to the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI) objective of a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions, and of being climate proof by 2025. Together with residents, companies, and institutions, these parties are taking responsibility for a sustainable future. Institutions and companies are important target groups when it comes to realising the CO2 reduction goals for the city.

DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond is the joint environmental service of the Province of Zuid-Holland and of fifteen municipalities in the Rijnmond area. DCMR is committed to reducing the environmental pressures for 1.2 million residents in the region. Additionally, DCMR provides support to municipalities, government institutions and companies; either regional, national, or internal.

Source: DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond