Energy Conservation in a Hospital Building through Energy Audit - A Case Study

Abstract

In the face of rising energy demands and environmental concerns, energy conservation has become a crucial imperative across all sectors. In particular, healthcare facilities such as hospitals are among the most energy-intensive building types due to their continuous operations, stringent indoor climate control, and reliance on advanced medical equipment. This study presents the findings of a detailed energy audit conducted at a a medium-sized tertiary-care hospital in a humid tropical region of southern India. The facility operates 24×7 and consumes energy at rates 2–3 times higher than standard commercial buildings. The audit involved systematic data collection, end-use energy monitoring, load profiling, and the identification of ten energy conservation measures (ECMs). The key contributors to energy consumption were found to be HVAC systems, lighting, and UPS equipment. The proposed ECMs including LED retrofitting, HVAC upgrades, solar integration, and operational changes were estimated to yield annual savings of approximately 4.48 million with a total investment of 8.92 million and a payback period of about 24 months. The study highlights the critical role of targeted audits in promoting energy efficiency in healthcare infrastructure and offers recommendations for sustainable operational improvements through both technical and behavioural interventions.