Quantitative Determination of Potable Cold Water Consumption in German Hospitals

• DOI: 10.3390/su10040932
• Publication Date: 2018-03-29T16:51:56Z
• Authors: Alfonso González; Justo García-Sanz...; David Salgado
• Keywords: Euros; Potable water; Water consumption; Consumption; Heating degree day; Mean value; Degree (music)

A hospital’s water installations are critical for its function, but the environmental cost is high. This study quantifies mean potable cold consumption (PCWC) in 19 hospitals belonging to German Public Health System. The hospital floor area ranges from 3000 151,000 m2 and number of beds 45 1003 beds. To this end, 60 Eco-Management Audit Scheme statements were analyzed corresponding period 2005–2015 accordance with their geographic location, heating-degree-days per year, cold-degree-days category depending on beds, area, workers. It was found that PCWC greater located areas year. potential annual savings estimated 8,600,000 m3 equivalent 15,000,000 euros, 4000 MWh energy, 30,000 tons CO2 emissions. concluded that, determine consumption, it preferable use as reference indicator, value indicator proposed 103 bed