Demand Response Incentives for Health Care

Forward-looking businesses and institutions are increasingly incorporating demand response preparedness and participation in their facility management toolkits. This advance planning enables managers and staff to maximize their costs and energy savings, as well as their incentive earnings. PG&E will work with your facility to identify measures that would reduce demand without having any impact on patient health, comfort, or care.

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Energy Reduction Strategies

Hospitals

Turn off all non-essential indoor/outdoor lighting, signage, window displays and office equipment not in use (i.e., printers, copiers, shredders, coffee makers).
Turn off all decorative features, such as fountains, lighting and ambient audio and video displays.
Turn off beverage vending machines and shift use of ice makers before or after an event.
Reduce use of non-essential testing and diagnostic equipment.
Reduce lighting and air conditioning in back office areas.

Medical Office Buildings/Elderly Care Facilities (in addition to those stated above)

Turn off excess elevator banks and escalators (as permitted).
Reduce use of non-essential testing and diagnostic equipment.
Conduct dishwashing, housekeeping, waste processing and laundry activities before or after an event.
Turn off all non-essential food preparation equipment not in use.
If possible, pre-cool work areas, then cycle constant air volume heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units or temporarily re-set static pressure in variable air volume HVAC, turn off ceiling fans and room fans, and raise temperature settings.
Conduct meetings during events to minimize use of equipment.
Some facilities with package AC units can do load-cycling, temperature reset, and possibly pre-cooling.
Charge batteries and battery-operated equipment prior to an event, then unplug battery chargers and use only pre-charged equipment during an event.
Adjust employee schedules and shifts so that times of increased production or energy use occur before or after planned events.