ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society's Climate and Water ... showers, toilets), Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems, ... St Petersburg Hospital, Florida has saved 50 per cent of its water use by replacing toilets.
W A T E R T R A NSF OR M E D : S UST A I NA B L E W A T E R S OL UT I ONS F OR C L I M A T E C H A NG E A DA PT A T I ON M ODUL E B : A DA PT I NG T O C H A NG E S I N W A T E R A V A I L A B I L I T Y - I NDUST R I A L & C OM M E R C I A L S E C T OR S This online textbook provides free access to a comprehensive education and training package that brings together the knowledge of how countries, specifically Australia, can adapt to climate change. This resource has been developed formally as part of the Federal Government’s Department of Climate Change’s Climate Change Adaptation Professional Skills program.
C H A PT E R 4: I DE NT I F Y I NG & I M PL E M E NT I NG W A T E R E F F I C I E NC Y & R E C Y C L I NG O PPOR T UNI T I E S B Y S E R V I C E S E C T OR L E C T UR E 4.2: T H E H E A L T H S E C T OR – W A T E R S A V I NG S I N H OSPI T A L S
© The Natural Edge Project (‘TNEP’), 2009 Copyright of this material (Work) is owned by the members of the research team from The Natural Edge Project, based at Griffith University and the Australian National University. The material contained in this document is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. According to the License, this document may be copied, distributed, transmitted and adapted by others, providing the work is properly attributed as: ‘Smith, M., Hargroves, K., Desha, C. and Stasinopoulos, P. (2009) Water Transformed - Australia: Sustainable Water Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation, The Natural Edge Project (TNEP), Australia.’ Document is available electronically at http://www.naturaledgeproject.net/Sustainable_Water_Solutions_Portfolio.aspx. Disclaimer: While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the parties involved in the development of this document do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents. Information, recommendations and opinions expressed herein are not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity and should not be relied upon for personal, legal, financial or other decisions. The user must make its own assessment of the suitability of the information or material contained herein for its use. To the extent permitted by law, the parties involved in the development of this document exclude all liability to any other party for expenses, losses, damages and costs (whether losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) arising directly or indirectly from using this document. This document is produced for general information only and does not represent a statement of the policy of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia and all persons acting for the Commonwealth preparing this report accept no liability for the accuracy of or inferences from the material contained in this publication, or for any action as a result of any person’s or group’s interpretations, deductions, conclusions or actions in relying on this material.
Acknowledgements The Work was produced by The Natural Edge Project supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change under its ‘Climate Change Adaptation Skills for Professionals Program’. The development of this publication has been supported by the contribution of non-salary on-costs and administrative support by the Griffith University Urban Research Program, under the supervision of Professor Brendan Gleeson, and the Australian National University Fenner School of Environment and Society and Engineering Department, under the supervision of Professor Stephen Dovers. Chief Investigator and Project Manager: Karlson ‘Charlie’ Hargroves, Research Fellow, Griffith University. Principle Researchers: Dr Michael Smith, Research Fellow, ANU; Cheryl Desha, Research Intensive Lecturer, Griffith University, and Peter Stasinopoulos, Research Officer Griffith University. Research Support: Angie Reeves, Research Officer Griffith University, and Stacey Hargroves, Professional Editor, Griffith University. Peer Review This chapter was peer reviewed by Carl Binns, Water Efficiency Specialist, Customer Sustainability, Sydney Water Corporation. Stan Scahill, The Institution of Engineers Australia (Biomedical Engineering College); Kevin Moon, Institute of Hospital Engineering Australia; Barry Coker and Jeffrey Briggs, St Andrews Hospital, Brisbane; Anntonette Joseph, Director – Urban Water Efficiency Initiatives, Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and The Arts Review for this program was also received from: Alex Fearnside, Leader of the Sustainability Team, Melbourne City Council; Alison Scotland, Sydney Water Corporation; Anna MacKenzie, ACT representative, Australian Association of Environmental Education and Deputy Principal Campbell Primary School; Anntonette Joseph, Director – Urban Water Efficiency Initiatives, Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and The Arts; Barry Coker and Jeffrey Briggs, St Andrews Hospital, Brisbane; Dr Barry Newell, ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, Facilitator of ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society’s Climate and Water Integration Group; Caleb Furner, Sydney Water Corporation; Carl Binns, Sydney Water Corporation; Claire Hammond, Sydney Water Corporation; Cheryl Davis, International Water Association; David Dumaresq, ANU Fenner School for Environment and Society, Senior Lecturer Human Ecology, Agro-ecology, and Sustainable Systems; Dennis Lee, Sydney Water Corporation; Glenn MacMillan, Genesis Now Pty Ltd; Jill Grant, Director Sustainable Development, Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism; Karen Jacobson, Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism; Kevin Moon, Institute of Hospital Engineering Australia; Kieran Coupe, Manager, MeterMate, Water and Energy Managers; Nick Edgerton, AMP Capital Sustainable Share Fund (formerly the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Australia); Para K Parameshwaran, Sydney Water Corporation; Adj. Prof Paul Perkins, Australian National University, Chair, Environment Industry Action Agenda and Barton Group; Marguerite Renouf, Director UNEP Working Group for Cleaner Production, University of Queensland; Phil Smith, President of the Australian Association of Environmental Education; Rob McKenna, Energy Saving Specialist, Water & Energy Programs, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change; Sally Armstrong, Sydney Water Corporation; Stan Scahill, The Institution of Engineers Australia (Biomedical Engineering College); Stephen Fahey, Environment Officer (Energy & Water), ANU Green; Victoria Hart, Facilitator and Program Director, Sustainability Victoria; and Vivian Filling, Australia Industry Group. Enquires should be directed to: Karlson ‘Charlie’ Hargroves (www.naturaledgeproject.net/contact.aspx) Prepared by The Natural Edge Project 2009
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Adapting to Changes in Water Availability Industrial & Commercial Sectors Lecture 4.2: The Health Sector – Water Savings in Hospitals Educational Aim This lecture highlights experiences of water efficiency leaders in the hospital sector, to demonstrate the wide variety of ways that hospitals can achieve substantial water savings. The lecture highlights best practice case studies, and includes a list of government funding grant/loan programs in Australia which hospitals can access to help fund water saving investments.
Learning Points 1. In an urban setting, hospitals are among the top water users, yet little action is taken to inform and support water savings in this sector. When considering a strategy to reduce water use in a hospital there are six main areas to consider, namely water leakage, sanitary/amenities (taps, showers, toilets), Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems, medical processes, in the cafeteria, and in the laundry. 1 Looking for cost effective opportunities across each of these areas can deliver significant water savings, with the following outstanding examples: 2 –
St Petersburg Hospital, Florida has saved 50 per cent of its water use by replacing toilets with new efficient flush models (saving 17.8 million litres (ML) of water and US$16,890 each year), reducing waste in the cooling towers (saving 61 ML of water and US$74,340 each year), and installing a recirculation system for use with three sterilisers (saving 17.8 ML of water and US$16,740 each year). 3
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St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Brisbane has reduced its water demand by over 68 per cent over the last 5 years. The hospital has reduced water waste by improving cooling tower operation, ensuring water is recycled for all medical equipment, and investing heavily in retrofitting steam sterilisers and water restrictors on taps. The steps they took to achieve this are outlined in detail in Brief Background Information.
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Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS), which manages many hospitals in Western Sydney, is investing in water saving measures. For example, Westmead Hospital – the largest in Sydney using 400 ML of water per year - has saved 60 ML and AUD$80,000 a year by simply addressing leaks. 4 At Blacktown Hospital, two new steam sterilisers have saved 19 ML per year. SWAHS is investing in recycling/reuse of sewer water for cooling towers, toilets and irrigation which will save 30 per cent of water usage in all of its hospitals, about 110 ML per year. They have also invested AUD$2.5 million in upgrading chillers and pumps reducing chiller water consumption by 28 per cent and cooling towers water consumption by 40 per cent.
1
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority cited in Reed, C. (2005) ‘Saving Water Counts in Energy Efficiency’, Inside ASHE, Sept/Oct 2005. 2 See a list of Best Practice Case studies listed below in the Further Reading section at the end of this lecture. 3 South Florida Water Management District (undated) ‘Hospital case study: A St. Petersburg hospital saves 50 percent of its water use!’, http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/waterwork/casestudy-hospital.html, accessed 7 August 2009. 4 Sydney Water (2004) ‘Hospitals... Saving Lives and Water’, The Conserver, Issue 6, pp9-10. Prepared by The Natural Edge Project 2009
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2. As explained in the opening chapter to this module, it is critical to gain senior level understanding and commitment for water saving initiatives, given the need for organisational and technical investment. 5 Further, developing a water plan (for example through forming a water committee) is also critical to achieving substantial water savings. The water plan should address issues such as stopping water leakage and waste; reducing sanitary/amenity water wastage; reducing water loss in cooling towers, retrofitting and upgrading medical equipment, reducing water use in cafeteria and food services, and in laundry services. 6 3. Hence, hospitals use water in many ways across various areas, both related to building operation and medical practice. Hospitals, like many other operations, also have many demands on limited budget and human resources. An effective way to best select strategies and coordinate efforts is through the formation of a ‘Water Committee’ that involves the heads of different areas of a hospital (or their representatives). The committee would first ensure understanding of the potential opportunities and business case for saving water in each of the areas, and then how these efforts can be synergistic. 4. Water Plan: Reducing Water Leakage and Waste – Identifying water leaks through water audits can be an efficient way to achieve water savings. According to Sydney Water, hospitals should be concerned about leaks if for larger hospitals (>400 beds) water use is higher than 500 litres per bed per day (averaged over a year) and for smaller hospitals (
