Impact of Energy Efficiency Practices on Healthcare Financial Profitability: Case Study of Al-Gardens Hospital Jordan, Middle East
Date
2023-06
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Publisher
The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Nowadays; sustainability is thriving by being implemented in various industries worldwide. Construction Sector is consuming huge amount of energy globally, where healthcare institutes take a high percentage of this consumption due to its 24/7 operation hours and the complexity of its function. Many practices such operational and building envelop practices can be implemented for healthcare institutes to reduce energy consumption. BIM REVIT and its feature Insight360 proved its ability in analysing the energy performance of the building and supporting in proposing energy efficiency practice for the building.
The aim of the research is to access the economic viability of different energy saving practices/scenarios that can be applied to a hospital in Jordan. The research highlighted the gap noticed in energy efficiency case studies literature; that is the need for researches to be conducted in developing economy counties such as Middle East – Jordan, also no future research/studies were mentioned for further improvements for each case study as per its location and available opportunities.
In this research, Jordan Middle East developing economy countries healthcare institute’s is the targeted facilities in this research, it is introducing energy efficiency practices that reduce energy consumption and raise the profitability of healthcare institute with low initial cost and low payback period through technical energy analysis and financial analysis. The relation between dependent variable (energy efficiency) and the independent variables (building envelop and operational practices variables) is tested. The research assumes that lighting control system as operational practice can reduce energy efficiency with 21% of the total energy consumption and 1 year and 4 weeks payback period, and the window to wall ratio considered as the most energy efficient and feasible building envelop practice to be implement with energy savings of 6% of the yearly energy consumption kwh/year and payback period of 0.46 year.
Hospitals as critical facility need to be resilient in its power production, CHP system can mitigate the risk of shortage of power due to climatic events or power distribution disruption. Future opportunities of new technologies can be developed in Jordan that need more research and studies. The research results support designers, engineers & investors in taking the most energy efficient & financially feasible practice to be implemented for healthcare facilities in Jordan.
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Keywords
energy efficiency, healthcare, Middle East, sustainability, construction sector, energy consumption