The University of Michigan Health System has a long-standing commitment to making the world a better place through sustainable practices. Whether your focus is providing or supporting patient care services, conducting research, or educating the leaders of tomorrow, we are all stewards of the environment who can partner to preserve our valuable resources.
Energy consumption is a major factor in greenhouse gas production, which is tied to global climate change. Energy conservation is essential to reduce our contribution to greenhouse gas production, and to reduce our considerable utilities expense base – which is approximately $28 million across the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers facilities.
What staff can do to conserve energy:
While every day presents opportunities to conserve, below is a checklist of extra steps that can be taken to help save energy at UMHS during your holidays, vacations or extended absences.
In your personal space:
• Turn off your computer monitor, speakers, printer and other computer periphery equipment.
• Unplug your unused devices, including phone chargers, AC power adapters, radios, workstation warmers and other small electronics. (If you use a power strip, simply turn it off.)
• Turn off all lights.
• Adjust your shades. Drop and tilt your blinds to manage heat loss.
In common areas:
The last person to leave should:
• Turn off copiers.
• Unplug paper shredders, televisions, coffeemakers, radios, microwave ovens and other small appliances. In general, refrigerators should be left on.
• Turn off lights in conference rooms, storage areas and restrooms.
• Close and secure all windows and doors.
• Dial down thermostats to 60 degrees in the office, classrooms, lab rooms and other areas not being used.
In labs:
• Switch off all equipment that is not in use, such as water baths, ovens, empty incubators, lasers, vacuum pumps, shakers, chilled centrifuges, ovens, GC’s, etc.
• Close fume hood sashes. This is critical! A single fume hood running 24 hours can use as much energy as a single family home. Hoods not in action use should always have their sashes closed.
Please see the energy conservation flier and share this information with staff in your area.
Watch this video to learn more about how you can be a steward in energy conservation at our Health System.
Energy Achievements at UMHS
University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers (UMHHC) energy teams continually optimize building energy performance through innovative design, energy retrofit projects, efficient operation and maintenance, and efficient computing systems. Since 2005, UMHHC buildings have increased their efficiency by more than 24% (measured as BTU/square foot of building area). In fiscal year 2012, existing facilities improved their energy efficiency by another 5%. This year also included the addition of the new 1.1 Million square foot C.S. Mott Children’s and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospitals (C&W) which added over $6 Million in new UMHHC utility costs.
FY2012 Energy Conservation Projects
During fiscal year 2012, twelve energy conservation projects were completed that are anticipated to save approximately $250,000 annually. Additionally, energy teams completed a substantial operations optimization effort in the new C&W anticipated to save approximately $1.4 Million per year.
Key projects include:
• Advanced air handling unit controls to more efficiently heat, cool and circulate building air
• New controls to reduce heating and cooling demands in unoccupied areas during nights and weekends
• Occupancy sensors for lighting and ventilation control
• Daylight sensors for lighting control
• Water saving fixture retrofits in restrooms
• Airflow balancing
• GreenIT programs to manage computer energy use during inactive periods
In total, these efforts come together as a win-win on many fronts:
• UMHS is doing what is right for the environment and our resources
• UMHS is contributing to our sustainability goals of energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gasses
• UMHS is saving money through conservation efforts redeploying these dollars to our mission-centric activities.
Visit the UMHHC Environmental Stewardship energy conservation webpage to see how your building rates on energy efficiency: http://www.med.umich.edu/envsteward/conservation.htm
