Energy Saving in Hospitals:
Hong Kong Initiatives
P L Yuen
14 May 2011
Content
(A) Background
(B) Energy Saving Strategy
(C) Energy Saving Achievements
(D) Sustaining Energy Saving
2
(A) Background
Purposes of Energy Saving

Protect environment

Cut down energy use and save money

Minimize health threats with less harmful emission

Project positive corporate image
4
Energy use from Hospital Building operation


Use of energy for:
-
air conditioning and ventilation
-
lighting and electrical power
-
Steam and hot water
Energy source included:
-
Electricity
-
Town Gas and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)
-
Diesel fuel
5
Hospital Energy Consumption Level
Annual Energy
Expenditure*
Source
Usage
Electricity
Air Conditioning,
Lighting & Power
$692M (83%)
Town Gas and
Liquified Petroleum Gas
Hot Water & Steam
$108M (13%)
Diesel Fuel
Hot Water, Steam &
Emergency Power
$37M (4%)
Total
$837M (100%)
* 2009/10 figures
6
Hospital Electricity Consumption Distribution
15%
15%
Air-conditioning and Ventilation
Lighting
Equipment
Miscellaneous
15%
55%
7
(B) Energy Saving Strategy
Energy Saving Strategy

Energy Demand Side Management
−

Actions taken to influence the quantity and pattern
of use of energy in hospitals
Energy Supply Side Management
−
Selection of energy source and switch fuels
9
Energy Demand Side Management

Hospital Building Envelope

Hospital Engineering Systems
10
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Building Envelope

Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) Control
- reduce overall building solar heat gain
(e.g. Low shading coefficient glass, sunshades,
recessed windows, etc.) 

Planting & Roof Garden
- reduce roof solar heat gain and create better patient
healing environment 
11
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering Systems



Promote good house keeping practice 
Retrofit existing engineering system / equipment
for energy efficiency
Establish energy efficiency design reference
standard for new hospital projects 
12
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering Systems
Summary of Implemented Measures
Lighting & Electrical
Air-conditioning
(A/C)
Boiler & Hot Water
Miscellaneous
13
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering Systems
Summary of Implemented Measures



Improvement of A/C control system
Automatic tube cleansing system for
chiller
Air-conditioning
Polarized refrigerant oil additive for
chiller

Chiller plant interconnection

Variable speed drive for chiller

Replacement of high efficiency chiller

Use of water-cooled A/C system 

Window reflective film
14
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering System
Summary of Implemented Measures

LED exit sign

T5 lighting retrofit 

Sensor lighting control

Compact fluorescent lamp
Lighting & Electrical
15
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering System
Summary of Implemented Measures

De-scaling device for boiler

Heat pump application 
Boiler & Hot Water
16
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering System
Summary of Implemented Measures

Lift modernization

Housekeeping & operational measures

Energy management control &
monitoring software 
Miscellaneous
17
Energy Demand Side Management
- Hospital Engineering System
Proposed Further Measure
Replace air-cooled chillers by water-cooled
chillers

Identified suitable replacement of 22
air-cooled chillers in 8 venues within
5 years

Estimated $15M annual energy cost
saving

Subject to business case and risk
assessment
18
Energy Supply Side Management

Alternative Choice of Energy

Adopting renewable energy
19
Energy Supply Side Management
- Alternative Choice of Energy

Key considerations included:
- Safety & Reliability
- Environmental
- Tariff

Switching from Diesel fuel to Town gas
- 9 hospitals already switched to towngas with
offered rebate for dual fuel boilers
20
Energy Supply Side Management
- Alternative Choice of Energy
Proposed Further Measures
Trigeneration Installation
Energy Supply Side Management
- Alternative Choice of Energy
Proposed Further Measures
Energy Supply Side Management
- Alternative Choice of Energy
Proposed Further Measures
Trigeneration installation




High overall system efficiency in generating own
electricity
Residual heat for providing steam, hot water and air
conditioning
More viable with availability of use of landfill gas at
lower tariff
Require consultancy study review on trigeneration
business case
23
Energy Supply Side Management
- Adopting renewable energy


Increase solar hot water system installation in
hospitals
Ride on new Government directives to install more
renewable energy system in new hospital projects
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(C) Energy Saving Achievements
Energy Saving Achieved


Energy index in terms of mega joule per hospital
floor area (MJ/m2) at downward trend
3.1% reduction in 5 year intervals from 2004/05 up to
2009/10 (equivalent to $70M cumulative savings)
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(D) Sustaining Energy Saving
Sustaining Energy Saving


Support ongoing Government initiation to reduce
energy use and carbon emission
Key initiatives include:

Energy Demand Supply Management
-

To consider replacing air cooled chiller to water cooled
chiller
Energy Supply Side Management
-
To work out business case of using Trigeneration System
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Sustaining Energy Saving



Continue to ensure hospitals are built with various energy
efficient features by the works agents/consultants
Participate in territory-wide carbon-less certification scheme
as encouragement and continual driving momentum
Anticipated there would be further energy reduction
29
Thank You