Should EPA Expand the Energy Star Rating to Medical Equipment?
Clark Reed, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
Introduced by EPA in 1992 for energy-efficient computers, the ENERGY
STAR® program has grown to encompass more than 50 product categories
in addition to new homes and commercial buildings. For each product
category, a unique specification describes the energy performance
requirements that a product must meet to qualify for the label.
Product manufacturers may use the label to identify those models
that meet the energy performance requirements.
EPA is beginning to conduct research on a potential new ENERGY
STAR product category: medical equipment. Over the next two years,
EPA and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) are partnering
to study the energy consumption characteristics of medical equipment
in full load and stand-by modes. Once consumption characteristics
are known, EPA will consider the following criteria to determine
whether to develop ENERGY STAR product specifications:
- Significant energy savings can be realized on a national basis.
- Product performance can be maintained or enhanced with increased
energy efficiency.
- Purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy
efficiency within a reasonable time period.
- Energy efficiency can be achieved with several technology options,
at least one of which is non-proprietary.
- Product energy consumption and performance and can be measured
and verified with testing.
- Labeling would effectively differentiate products and be visible
for purchasers.
To develop ENERGY STAR product specifications, EPA uses a systematic
process that relies on rigorous market, engineering, and pollution
savings analyses as well as input from industry stakeholders. These
specifications are then periodically reviewed to evaluate their
continued relevancy, as appropriate.
Labs21 Connection:
Currently there exists no comprehensive body of data on the energy
consumption characteristics of health care medical equipment and
the associated heat gain emitted in healthcare spaces. Consequently,
there is no industry standard for selecting medical equipment in
order to meet energy efficiency targets. The research will gather
data on power consumption and heat gain characteristics from bench
tests, manufacturer's tests, or measurements from actual installations.
Thirty-nine pieces of equipment will be evaluated including Magnetic
Resonance Imaging, CAT scans, PET scans, Cardiac Catherization,
X-Rays and X-ray photo equipment, Respirators, Heart Monitors, and
centrifuges.
This research and the anticipated results support the Labs21 Approach
in several ways. The impact of medical equipment is evaluated comprehensively,
from building plug loads to heat loads on facility HVAC systems.
The performance of equipment will be tracked and the results will
be shared through industry documents. Engineers will be able to
use the data to more accurately size HVAC loads and right size equipment.
The EPA will also be able to evaluate the data to determine where
best to expand the ENERGY STAR label, collaborate with industry,
and increase the visibility of energy efficient medical equipment.
Biography:
Clark Reed coordinates EPA's voluntary ENERGY
STAR program to improve energy efficiency and reduce air emissions
in hospitals nationwide. Over the past five years, he has worked
to create EPA's national energy performance rating system
for acute care hospitals and medical office buildings. Mr. Reed
serves on the steering committee of the Green Guide for Health Care
as well as the LEED® Application Guide for Healthcare
Core Committee of the U.S. Green Buildings Council. Reed earned
a master's degree in environmental policy at Tufts University
and a bachelor of arts degree in economics at the University of
Washington. He has been a member of the American Society for Healthcare
Engineering of the American Hospital Association since 1999.
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