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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Hospitals, nursing homes turn to 3rd-party financing

Journal Article · · Energy User News; (United States)
OSTI ID:5081802
Experience is teaching the administrators of hospitals and nursing homes how to make better arrangements for third-party financing of energy-management systems. Accustomed to health-insurance reimbursement for health-care costs, hospitals have lacked incentives for conservation. Plans now used most by hospitals and health-care facilities involve third-party arrangements where: (1) an equipment vendor installs equipment and takes a share of the energy-cost savings; or (2) energy-services firms both install capital-intensive equipment and implement a variety of low-cost conservation measures, again for a percentage of the savings. Although most users think these arrangements are satisfactory, they advise a preliminary low-cost audit and participation in a basic energy-management seminar before employing an energy-services firm. Accurate baseline energy-consumption data should be developed in order to evaluate results, and assurance is needed that staff members understand the accounting formulas. Also recommended are independent audits after installation and attention to the legal clauses in contracts. (DCK)
OSTI ID:
5081802
Journal Information:
Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 7:27; ISSN EUSND
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English