Grumman/Butkus Associates, a firm of energy efficiency consultants and sustainable design engineers, recently released the results of its 2019 Hospital Energy and Water Benchmarking Survey, focusing on healthcare facilities’ resource usage trends and costs for calendar year 2018.
Since G/BA initiated the survey more than 20 years ago, hospitals’ overall fossil fuel use has trended downward, but electricity use isn’t declining as much. The average combined Btu/ft2 (electricity plus gas/steam) for participating facilities was 245,258 in this year’s survey, up from 241,733 in CY2017.
Square-foot prices for gas/steam fell modestly ($0.74 in 2918, compared with $0.75 in 2017), but square-foot prices for electricity climbed rose sharply ($2.57 in 2018, compared with $2.41 in 2017). The overall result is that hospitals’ total ft2 costs for energy (gas/steam plus electric) increased: $3.31 for 2018, compared with $3.16 for 2017.
Hospitals’ average carbon footprint has remained fairly steady at 50 to 60 pounds of CO2 equivalent per ft2 per year since G/BA began calculating carbon data in 1999. “If we are going to address the very daunting issue of climate change, the healthcare industry must make greater strides in reducing its carbon footprint,” says Dan Doyle, G/BA Chairman. “As the trend data shows, not enough progress is being made so far.”
Participating facilities displayed a broad range of usage patterns. For instance, some participants are using more than 250,000 BTU/ft2 in fossil fuel annually, compared with a general mid-range of facilities (about 140,000 BTU/ft2/year) and those that used least (75,000 BTU/ft2/year or less). Similarly, a few hospitals consume more than 45 kWh/ft2/year in electricity, compared with a mid-range of about 30 kWh/ft2/year. A few squeaked by with less than 18 kWh/ft2/year.
Hospitals’ energy costs per square foot (red boxes) rose in 2018. Energy use intensity (Btu/sf/year, blue bars) has drifted downward over time but also ticked up in 2018. Chart ©2020 Grumman/Butkus Associates.
“Facilities that have high unit costs for energy should view this as an opportunity,” says Doyle. “For example, an energy conservation project that would have a five-year payback at an ‘average’ facility may have a payback of just 2.5 or 3 years at a facility with higher unit costs for energy.”
Hospital water/sewer use is also gradually declining, currently averaging about 48 gallons per square foot per year (compared with more than 60 gallons/ ft2/year a decade ago). Costs for water/sewer are generally rising, however, now averaging $0.44 /ft2. “G/BA expects the trend of rising water and sewer costs to continue,” says Doyle. “Price hikes not only reflect increasing costs to extract and treat the water, but also the fact that cash-strapped governmental entities may view water as a revenue source. Costs to upgrade or replace aging infrastructure are also contributing to escalating costs”
Since 1995, the G/BA survey has provided a free annual benchmarking resource. Hospitals are invited to participate by submitting responses to a short list of questions. Information for this edition was provided by 125 hospitals located in Illinois (48), Wisconsin (18), Indiana (16), Michigan (15), Texas (13), and several other states.
Full results and analysis, as well as information about participating in the 2020 survey (2019 data), are available at the firm’s website: grummanbutkus.com/HES. For additional information, contact Dan Doyle (ddoyle@grummanbutkus.com) or Julie Higginbotham (jhigginbotham@grummanbutkus.
Related Stories
Market Data | Sep 28, 2021
Design-Build projects should continue to take bigger shares of construction spending pie over next five years
FMI’s new study finds collaboration and creativity are major reasons why owners and AEC firms prefer this delivery method.
Market Data | Sep 22, 2021
Architecture billings continue to increase
The ABI score for August was 55.6, up from July’s score of 54.6.
Market Data | Sep 20, 2021
August construction employment lags pre-pandemic peak in 39 states
The coronavirus delta variant and supply problems hold back recovery.
Market Data | Sep 15, 2021
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator plummets in August; Contractor Confidence down
ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels all fell modestly in August.
Market Data | Sep 7, 2021
Construction sheds 3,000 jobs in August
Gains are limited to homebuilding as other contractors struggle to fill both craft and salaried positions.
Market Data | Sep 3, 2021
Construction workforce shortages reach pre-pandemic levels
Coronavirus continues to impact projects and disrupt supply chains.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 1, 2021
Top 10 outdoor amenities at multifamily housing developments for 2021
Fire pits, lounge areas, and covered parking are the most common outdoor amenities at multifamily housing developments, according to new research from Multifamily Design+Construction.
Market Data | Sep 1, 2021
Construction spending posts small increase in July
Coronavirus, soaring costs, and supply disruptions threaten to erase further gains.
Market Data | Sep 1, 2021
Bradley Corp. survey finds office workers taking coronavirus precautions
Due to the rise in new strains of the virus, 70% of office workers have implemented a more rigorous handwashing regimen versus 59% of the general population.
Market Data | Aug 31, 2021
Three out of four metro areas add construction jobs from July 2020 to July 2021
COVID, rising costs, and supply chain woes may stall gains.