Putting the sun to work for healthcare industry
From a fact sheet published by Focus on Energy:
It’s no surprise that rising natural gas prices have health care industry managers looking for new ways to control costs. Owners of health care facilities are feeling the pinch as the cost of hot water and space heating skyrockets. . . .
Darryl Daze and Rick Gomes, Directors of Facilities Management for Extendicare Health Services, Inc., were in the process of upgrading the heating system at their Hammond, Wisconsin facility, the American Heritage Care Center. As part of its mission of service to the community, Extendicare was interested in finding ways to incorporate renewable technologies into its buildings. During the design process they decided to consider how solar thermal energy might work for them as part of an integrated high efficiency heating system. They reasoned that:
+ The most cost effective way to incorporate solar water heating technology would be to do it as part of a complete heating system upgrade.
+ Calculations showed they would realize significant fuel savings, and cumulative cash
flow projections showed a return on investment of less than five years.
+ Wisconsin has a goal to get 25 percent of our energy needs from renewable energy
by 2025 and Extendicare Health Services wanted to do their part and be among the
early adopters of solar water heating at a health care facility.
Financial assistance available from Focus on Energy was key to Extendicare Health Services making the final installation decision.
