/ en Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:04:40 -0500 Wed, 31 Jan 24 09:47:03 -0600 /sustainability/ECM-support-handbook Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:47:03 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /sustainability/decarbonization/management-fossil-fuels <p>End uses include humidification, cooking, cart wash, humidification and sterilization. Combustion for electrical energy generation includes both on-site normal power generation and emergency generation.  </p><p>Consumption of fossil fuels is very climate dependent. The engineering firm Grumman Butkus maintains a benchmarking database<sup>1</sup> which summarizes the energy use of 132 hospitals. This analysis shows that fossil fuels in the Midwest on average represent approximately 60% of a hospital’s energy consumption, compared to 40% electricity. An analysis<sup>2</sup> of Local Law 84 benchmarking data, published by New York City, shows a fuel mix of 70% fossil fuels and 30% electric energy. On the other hand, in a mild-dry climate such as that found in most of California, the fuel mix for hospitals is closer to 45% fossil fuels and 55% electric.  </p><p>The Midwest and northeastern United States have cold, wet winters, which drives significant fossil fuel consumption. In densely populated cities where the electric grid is heavily taxed during periods of peak loads, hospitals have been historically encouraged by state and utility incentive programs to invest in co-generation systems and gas- or steam-fired chillers. These factors make reducing emissions related to fossil fuels significantly easier for hospitals located in warmer climates and rural areas.  </p> Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:10:32 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /sustainability/decarbonization/management-landscape-equipment <p>This can include equipment for landscape such as trimmers, mowers, etc. It can include small construction equipment owned and operated by the health care organization.  </p><p>If the equipment in this category is owned and operated by the health care organization (HCO), then emissions from this equipment is a Scope 1 emission. If the health care organization contracts these services — landscape, construction, etc. — then these emissions are part of Scope 3 services. </p> Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:02:58 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /sustainability/decarbonization/management-emissions-purchased-energy <p>The blend of fuels used to support an electric grid can vary greatly by both region and time of day, but there are resources available to gain a better understanding of this data. To simplify the process, health care organizations can also use a simplified location-based methodology such as eGRID.  </p> Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:48:54 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /sustainability/decarbonization/management-water <p>When evaluating carbon emissions, water usage can be broken down into two main categories. The first is the energy associated with delivering the water to the site, as the energy associated with pumping the water to the site or to the water tower serving the site generates carbon emissions. The second category is the emissions associated with wastewater treatment generated by the building, which includes water treatment as well as the management of wastewater. </p> Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:35:54 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /sustainability/decarbonization/management-refrigerants <p>HVAC equipment using refrigerants can include packaged rooftop units, direct expansion split systems, chillers, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems and several others. Different equipment systems can contain different refrigerant types with varying emissions potential.  </p><p>Refrigerants are classified by global warming potential (GWP), which refers to the emissions contribution of a substance relative to that of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide has a GWP of 1, while R22 refrigerant has a GWP of 1810, meaning that one molecule of R22 has a global warming impact 1,810 times that of one molecule of carbon dioxide. The higher the GWP, the greater greenhouse gas impact associated with the refrigerant per ton. The federal government has regulated high-GWP refrigerants and is responsible for phasing out the use of R22 in new equipment.  </p><p>GWP can be used to quickly measure and analyze the greenhouse gas emissions of refrigerants. Refrigerant emissions are classified as a Scope 1 emission (i.e., an emission that originates from the building site). Selecting and implementing equipment that uses low-GWP refrigerants is one of the simplest ways to reduce Scope 1 emissions.  </p><p>Refrigerant emissions come from three main sources: installation, operation and disposal. Installation refers to either the primary refrigerant charge of the system, whether the system is charged at the factory or field installed (variable refrigerant flow, split DX systems, etc.) and charged on-site. This process is not perfect, and refrigerant leakage can occur. Proper manufacturer installation guidelines should be followed to minimize or eliminate leaks.</p><p>Operational emissions can occur due to refrigerant leaks over the lifetime of the system. These leaks are much likelier in a field-installed system when compared to a factory-charged system. The larger and more complex the field-installed system, the more likely leaks are to occur.  </p><p>Disposal emissions occur during the decommissioning of a system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and manufacturers have strict guidelines to reduce disposal emissions; however, leaks and improper decommissioning results in substantial leakage.  </p> Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:05:20 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /education-events/legionella-control-health-care-lunch-learn <p><a class="btn btn-block btn-primary" href="https://smithbucklin.zoom.us/rec/share/7v-vqKp4y871ATWZpjahqN5md5YQJORpwIWLqW6DSIXyuB_BZRT4d7nx_AiwjS-R.mDb5dG96XyI_BqbO?startTime=1699552803000" role="button" target="_BLANK">View On-Demand Recording</a></p><p>Dive deep into the world of water treatment using chlorine dioxide and monochloramine. In the healthcare sector, ensuring the purity and safety of water is paramount, especially in hospital facilities where the risk of biofilm and legionella contamination can have dire consequences. This webinar, hosted by PureLine and Sanipur, is tailored for healthcare facility managers and engineers who are at the forefront of maintaining hospital water systems. Our expert speakers will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using chlorine dioxide and monochloramine, providing insights into their efficacy, application, and best practices. Equip yourself with the knowledge to make informed decisions about water treatment in your healthcare facility.</p><h3><small>Learning Objectives:</small></h3><ul><li>Understanding the Basics: Gain a foundational understanding of chlorine dioxide and monochloramines as agents for water treatment.</li><li>Efficacy and Application: Learn about the effectiveness of these agents in treating and maintaining water systems, especially in the context of healthcare facilities.</li><li>Biofilm and Legionella Disinfection: Dive deep into the challenges posed by biofilm and legionella in hospital water systems and how chlorine dioxide and monochloramines can combat these threats.</li><li>Advantages and Disadvantages: Weigh the pros and cons of each agent, helping you make informed decisions tailored to the specific needs of your facility.</li><li>Best Practices: Equip yourself with practical knowledge and guidelines on how to effectively implement these treatments in a healthcare setting.</li></ul><h3><small>Speakers:</small></h3><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bob_Sullivan_headshot_200x200.jpg" width="125" height="125"></p><p><strong>Bob Sullivan</strong><br>CEO at PureLine</p></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2023-10/Andrew_Brinkdopke_headshot_200x200.png" width="125" height="124"></p><p><strong>Andrew Brinkdopke</strong><br>VP of Engineering and Technology at PureLine</p></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2023-10/Alberto_Comazzi_headshot_200x200.jpg" width="125" height="125"></p><p><strong>Alberto Comazzi, PhD</strong><br>VP of Business Development at Sanipur</p></div></div> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:51:47 -0600 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /education-events/low-gwp-refrigerants-chillers-reducing-carbon-footprint-your-health-care-facility <p><a class="btn btn-block btn-primary" href="https://smithbucklin.zoom.us/webinar/register/rec/WN_WOT0yw9GR_e6i_kYp36a8Q?meetingId=D9BO2RR0EsscBA5QOQKqEKKRrLWg8zVrHLczAjk-MeQ3l1WDnzWNCDG6rODfI6Sa.xIH_gsZT8PW0MROw&playId=&action=play?hasValidToken=false&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fsmithbucklin.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2Fkr6bpy-iqdhT_JwMdl3BoNrz4n8mETCCp1sTlD_cw8w7FO_rpEmEiy1VoOPRUU5M.GO40iCAckEglp3-1%3FstartTime%3D1698944404000#/registration" role="button" target="_BLANK">View On-Demand Recording</a></p><p>As facilities are becoming more cognizant of their building’s carbon footprint, making sustainable choices with regards to their HVAC equipment is becoming increasingly important. In particular, the transition to refrigerants with lower global warming potential has been a focal point. Many are finding this transition to be confusing and at times difficult to navigate. Global, federal, and local entities are all weighing in on the topic with various levels of guidance, legislation, regulation, and code requirements. When making these refrigerant and equipment decisions, a prudent facility will continue to focus on the overall environmental impact.<br><br>In this presentation we will discuss:</p><ul><li>The history of initiatives to reduce Global Warming</li><li>Making sense of the current status of legislation and regulations</li><li>A roadmap for low GWP refrigerants used with chillers</li><li>Understanding the differences of these refrigerant choices</li><li>How to put a focus on the total environmental impact of your facility</li></ul><h3><small>Speaker:</small></h3><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2023-10/Malek-Headshot-Carrier-100x150.jpg" data-entity-type="file" alt="Malek" width="100" height="150" class="align-left"><strong>Jason Malek: </strong>Jason has over 27 years of sales, marketing and management experience with industry leading HVAC manufactures. His career focus has been in applied, industrial and commercial mechanical applications, including building automation systems, performance contracting, service retrofits, and mechanical maintenance. He is a LEED – New Construction Accredited Professional and has his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.</p> Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:13:26 -0500 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /education-events/site-care-shifts-lunch-learn <p><a class="btn btn-block btn-primary" href="https://smithbucklin.zoom.us/rec/share/YH6Gt3Ln3GY6w1vCZPOxxAtKVxkEtuPU-sItA-B0QXZsw3oK2MtIjVGciKUy_r7L.yb4fd0aakOXCfWGj?startTime=1697734804000" role="button" target="_BLANK">View On-Demand Recording</a></p><p>Site-of-care shifts are not new. But new forces–like regulatory flexibilities, payment expansions, purchaser preferences, innovation, and private equity funding for non-hospital sites–are accelerating shifts away from the hospital setting. Discover how you can prepare for these changes.</p><h3><small>Learning Objectives:</small></h3><ul><li>Learn the 3 major shifts organizations should prepare for    </li><li>Understand the main drivers for the site-of-care shifts and the implications for stakeholders    </li><li>Discover tips for setting site-of-care strategy for your organization.</li></ul><h3><small>Speaker:</small></h3><p><strong>Nicholas Hula</strong><br>Life sciences and Diagnostics Research Consultant·Advisory Board<br><br>Nick serves as a consultant with Advisory Board's life sciences, pharmacy, and diagnostics research team. In this role, he helps leaders across the healthcare industry form valuable partnerships that enable a more efficient, reliable healthcare delivery system. Nick joined the team in 2018 and has led research on topics including purchasing committee strategy, supply chain management, diagnostic imaging strategy, and neurology program growth. Nick is dedicated to advancing collaboration among stakeholders throughout the industry to solve difficult problems. He works most closely with device leaders and the providers that rely on those devices to diagnose and deliver patient care.<br> </p><p><strong>Information provided by</strong></p><p><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsmithbucklin.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2F5016835591832%2FWN_vT2Utpe2S_i7YQNLluGOng&data=05%7C01%7Cmlyda%40aha.org%7Ce20bb7468d7a42b22bbf08db71937107%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638228650323058320%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ocJYCG9AqY3VEfUxP9fMjaQLUwzSeGsG5%2FIQMCAOI4Q%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ab-logo-pantone.png" data-entity-uuid="6870a548-0930-4dce-92a7-0e678e3f1e7d" data-entity-type="file" alt="Advisory Board Logo" width="150" height="57" class="align-left"></a></p><p> </p> Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:53:46 -0500 Health Care Industry Fundamentals /education/chc-exam-review Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:29:55 -0500 Health Care Industry Fundamentals