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In my last blog, I talked a little about energy performance contracts (EPCs) and how they have benefitted hospitals that need get creative with funding energy management and sustainability initiatives.
But how do you know if an EPC is right for your hospital? The answer depends on many factors, including where you are starting from and how far you want to go with your energy management. The customers that we have worked with to implement an EPC share similar traits and goals, shown below in “7 signs.” Does your hospital also face these challenges? Do you have a strategy in place to address them?
Here are 7 initial signs that that an EPC might be a good fit for your hospital.
1. You have a comprehensive energy management and sustainability strategy in place or a plan to create one in the near future.
2. You have energy or carbon reduction targets you need to meet.
3. You need to significantly reduce your hospital’s operating costs without sacrificing patient safety.
4. You need to address a large maintenance backlog.
5. You need to improve the hospital environment and patient comfort.
6. You are pursuing LEED or other green certification.
7. You have a dedicated sustainability and/or energy officer.
If you think an EPC could be the answer to finding the funding for your hospital energy management strategy, it’s best to work with an Energy Service Company (ESCO). For more information about energy performance contracts, and what to look for when choosing an ESCO, consider the following helpful resources.
White Paper: The Performance Contracting Advantage
Energy Performance Contracting Solutions for Public Buildings
National Association of Energy Service Corporations
The European Association of Energy Service Companies
U.S. Department of Energy: How to Select and ESCO
U.S. Department of Energy: A Guide to Performance Contracting with ESCOs
