Hospital radiology department overhead energy estimation

Abstract

Efficient energy management is critical for every sector of the economy. This is true in the commercial sector which includes the healthcare industry. The focus of this study is to estimate overhead energy consumption of healthcare facilities where buildings are open and operating 24 hours a day/365 days a year. Overhead energy consumption, heating, air conditioning and lighting are the greatest contributors to the total energy consumption in commercial buildings. According to the Annual Energy Outlook 2011 Report, healthcare facilities are ranked third, after malls and offices, in total energy consumed. Governor Brownback’s budget for Kansas, fiscal year 2012 reports current energy and conservation projects, and states the importance of studying HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems in order to achieve better efficiency. In this document, Governor Brownback comments on the need for continuing efforts to reduce the cost of providing health services. The Annual Energy Outlook and Governor’s budget highlight the importance the research conducted out of the Sustainable Engineered Systems Laboratory at Wichita State University. This study analyzes and compares three different methods for estimating overhead energy consumption in two rooms of a hospital facility (CT and x-ray rooms): a heuristic that uses annual energy consumption, a thermal analysis, and a simulation. The comparison of these three methods will provide information and guidance for method selection at a desired level of accuracy and ease of application.