Energy Performance Benchmarking and Indicators: A Comprehensive Framework for Scientifically Sound Data-Driven and Energy Management Improvements in Hospitals

Hospitals are extremely energy-intensive facilities, but improved tracking and analysis of key energy indicators can enable better management of consumption, costs, and emissions. Multidimensional indicators provide greater visibility into the interdependencies between hospital infrastructure and operations. Energy usage intensity that adapts based on different operating conditions can reveal new efficiency pathways and opportunities using data analysis. This paper (i) synthesizes research on hospital energy use patterns, metrics, and indicators and (ii) it provides an overview on use of new indicator for a data driven tool aiming to collect a systematic set of benchmarks to support an effective energy management in hospital facilities. While hospital energy demands are high, tremendous potential to cut energy waste through technical strategies based on the specific energy indicators adoption remains untapped. New leveraging indicators act as pivotal elements for hospitals to institute systematic energy conservation programs including TEC (Total Energy Consumption) forecasting. Enhancing data collection and monitoring methods will further improve the efficacy of indicators. This paper serves as a background study and introduces to a selective literature helping to identify suitable energy indicators as part of a holistic approach to achieve more sustainable energy goals.