Roundtable Focuses on Energy Efficiency Savings for
Hospitals and Universities in Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio, June 22, 2017 — Today, Advanced Energy Economy Institute (AEE Institute) convened a discussion with Ohio’s leading health providers, efficiency program and service providers, city officials, universities, and thought leaders to share their experiences saving energy and money by implementing effective energy efficiency programs. These conversations allow stakeholders to learn from efficiency leaders and help shape Ohio's policies to enhance the state's energy productivity for competitiveness and economic growth.
For today’s roundtable, AEE Institute brought together 15 energy experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges for large-scale efficiency in Ohio. The roundtable was hosted by Cleveland Clinic, a national leader in medical research, education and hospital care at its Lyndhurst campus. Participants included Schneider Electric, CLEAResult Consulting, the University of Dayton, and Rudolf Libbe Group, among others.
“In Cleveland, a city long dependent on steel and manufacturing, efficiency plays a critical role in economic development. Any investment that allows the city’s largest energy users to reduce their energy costs even as they expand their operations is good for prosperity in the region,” said J.R. Tolbert, vice president of state policy, Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business group affiliated with AEE Institute. “Collaborative, productive efforts like today’s roundtable show how Ohio can lead the Midwest in energy innovation—and benefit from savings, growth, and economic competitiveness.”
The discussion highlighted successful projects throughout the various hospital systems and colleges, the critical role access to energy data plays, and the financial benefits from pursuing energy efficiency investments in Cleveland and throughout Ohio.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the single most energy-intensive component in the health system’s energy profile (51%). These institutions’ efficiency upgrades have helped make their facilities more efficient and competitive, significantly reducing their cost of operations. One project identified by the Cleveland Clinic, upgrading the hospital’s operating room HVAC system to cut back when an operating room is not in use, created savings of $250,000 annually.
“Customers have become more interested in efficiency as the technology has gotten smarter, faster, and more accessible,” said Ted Ford, President of Ohio Advanced Energy Economy, a state partner of AEE. “By undertaking a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy, they can reduce their operating costs while increasing their competitiveness and productivity.”
A wide range of available technologies and services, like demand response and combined heat and power, can make large energy users more efficient and save them money. While large cities like Cleveland are making progress on energy efficiency, more can be done. The roundtable focused on sharing best practices to capture savings for customers of all sizes.
Energy efficiency represents a significant share of the total $200 billion U.S. advanced energy industry, which is equal to pharmaceutical manufacturing by revenue and approaching that of consumer electronics, and today employs more than 3 million people across the nation, nearly 2 million of them working in energy efficiency. For more information on the role and size of the energy efficiency sector in the United States, download Advanced Energy Economy’s Advanced Energy Now 2017 Market Report. To learn more about various energy efficiency technologies, download This Is Advanced Energy, a comprehensive technology directory with descriptions, photos, and case study examples.
About Advanced Energy Economy and AEE Institute
The Advanced Energy Economy Institute is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the public benefits and opportunities of advanced energy. AEE Institute provides critical data to drive the policy discussion on key issues through commissioned research and reports, data aggregation and analytic tools. AEE Institute also provides a forum where leaders can address energy challenges and opportunities facing the United States. AEE Institute is affiliated with Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a 501(c)(6) business association, whose purpose is to advance and promote the common business interests of its members and the advanced energy industry as a whole. AEE and its State and Regional Partner organizations are active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 companies and organizations in the advanced energy industry. Visit AEE Institute here and AEE here.