Multidimensional Energy Performance Indicators and Data Analytics Scientific Framework to Enable Effective Energy Management in Hospitals

Hospitals have exceptionally high energy needs, but tracking insightful energy indicators can unlock major efficiency opportunities. As hospitals worldwide strive for sustainability, analysis based on multidimensional indicators that capture usage interdependencies is invaluable. The goal is to propose meaningful indicators helpful in analysis of hospital facilities in energy management. A key insight is that most hospitals likely remain far from optimized energy performance, despite their necessary high consumption. Significant potential exists for conservation and waste reduction through upgrades guided by energy efficient indicators and informatics. With robust data frameworks with scientific approaches is not yet common in healthcare, substantial room for efficiency improvements persists by adopting leading energy data practices. Accordingly, this paper presents an introduction to relevant energy indicators research for hospitals seeking to activate data-centric energy management. It serves both as a primer on the promise of leveraging advanced indicators for usage insights, and a preliminary approach in applying related techniques in a comprehensive energy optimization framework. With creative data use being new in healthcare, the concepts covered aim to ready hospitals to finally achieve long-possible energy savings according to Sustainable Development Goals. Advanced metrics can guide hospitals towards greener operations, cost savings, and climate-friendly care. Though hospitals present unique challenges, embracing innovations in energy intelligence promises to finally unlock decades of elusive savings via analytics-based sustainability.