ENERGY STAR® and Health Care – a perfect combination

Should medical imaging equipment be ENERGY STAR® certified? 

With support from ENERGY STAR Canada and BC Hydro, researchers worked with Dr. Anthony (Tony) Easty – Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (University of Toronto), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and three host hospitals: Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) in British Columbia, and Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and University Health Network (UHN).The study, which included multiple testing events for low power energy modes, standby/idle power modes and active/scanning energy modes, revealed positive findings in terms of energy reduction possibilities and a number of recommendations.

To read the recommendations, and the full advertorial please click HERE. 

Overview

A myriad of opportunities to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts exist in health care facilities; for energy, many of these involve ENERGY STAR® qualified products and services. And while statistics show the majority of Canadians are familiar with the ENERGY STAR logo, many in the health services sector are not familiar with how ENERGY STAR can help play an integral part in a sound energy management plan for hospitals and long-term care homes.

What is ENERGY STAR® and What Does it Mean for Health Care?

ENERGY STAR is the international symbol of high energy efficiency and has been adopted by governments throughout the world thanks to international cooperation agreements. In Canada, the ENERGY STAR program is administered and promoted by Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency, which enrolls participants as well as promotes and monitors the use of ENERGY STAR symbol across Canada.

In addition to energy, carbon emissions and operating cost reductions, there are many other associated benefits to embracing environmental responsibility through ENERGY STAR, including more comfortable resident/patient care and staff working environment, improved quality of life for patients and clients, improved employee health and morale, reduced sick days, a stimulated local economy, improved overall facility infrastructure, enhanced employee knowledge and skills, and increased employee awareness which often translates to improved stewardship practices in their own households having an even greater environmental benefit.

Many of you are familiar with some of the more than 75 types of eligible product categories that span lighting and office equipment, heating and cooling, water heaters, doors and windows, residential and commercial appliances which include food service equipment, and a growing list of recently added products such as electric vehicle chargers, pool pumps and water coolers. 

But there is more to ENERGY STAR than just highly energy efficient products – it offers a framework to better embrace energy efficient appliances, energy awareness training, and an opportunity to be recognized for energy reduction accomplishments. Look to ENERGY STAR also for a suite of services to help energy and facility managers mitigate energy costs and address preparedness for climate change resiliency.

ENERGY STAR® Participant

Any health care organisation wishing to take their energy efficiency commitment to the next level is encouraged to becoming a formal ENERGY STAR Participant - click HERE  to find out more information.

Benefits include the ability to use the internationally-recognized ENERGY STAR Participant symbol to promote your commitment, opportunities for joint marketing and promotional campaigns, having your organisation profiled on the Canadian ENERGY STAR web site, heightened public image for your environmental leadership, support for implementing energy efficiency initiatives that save money and reduce GHG emissions, and access to additional training and print-ready promotional materials.