| Combined Heating and
Power for Hospitals |
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Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration)
systems use an engine-generator to produce electricity
and heat, on-site.
This heat is
used for producing
steam/hot water, air-conditioning/refrigeration,
heating buildings, or for industrial process heat.
Cogeneration is particularly beneficial in
situations where there is a high ratio of thermal
energy to electric energy, such as in Hospitals. |
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Hospitals are excellent candidates for CHP systems because
they have high electrical and thermal energy needs that
generally follow each other and have significant energy
demands 24/7/365. CHP also can generate significant cost
savings for hospitals.
Many hospitals across the
country are discovering the power of CHP for improving their
bottom line and operational capabilities. A CHP system can operate in the range
of 4 cents a kilowatt-hour. In regions of the country such
as New York, where hospitals pay 16 cents per kWh, CHP trims
operating costs. Beyond dollars and cents, CHP enhances the
quality of power. More than 200 hospitals and health care
facilities nationwide are using CHP to lower energy costs by
up to 50% and decrease power outages and interruptions by up
to 95%. |
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On a typical day during the peak power
period, there may be interruptions in voltages and even
fluctuations in frequencies, which wreak havoc on clinical
equipment. But CHP can assure smooth, continuous operation
of clinical devices. One hospital had between 60 and 70
disruptions of power a year that caused downtime of the
laboratory equipment and testing facilities. see
http://www.chpcentermw.org/06-01_application.html |
Benefits of
Applying CHP to Hospitals
- Improved
profitability
- Reduced impact
of volatile energy costs
- Lower
operations and maintenance costs
- Improved
environmental performance
- Reduced carbon
footprint
- Healthier
healing and work environment
- Healthier
communities
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The
US Government CHP Initiative for Hospitals is
working to improve the way energy is produced and used in
hospitals. Already, more than 200 hospitals and health care
facilities nationwide have discovered how CHP can help them
reach peak performance and lower their energy costs by up to
50%.
The CHP Initiative for Hospitals seeks to raise awareness of
the energy, economic, and environmental benefits of CHP. To
accomplish this, it is working to coordinate with the
American Hospital Association (AHA) to form a Hospital CHP
Advisory Panel, conduct outreach and educational sessions
during major American Society of Healthcare Engineering
conferences, survey hospital industry leaders on their CHP
needs, and encourage hospitals to implement CHP projects.
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