Millions Can Be Saved Through Better Energy Management in Federal Hospitals
HRD-82-77
Published: Sep 01, 1982. Publicly Released: Sep 01, 1982.
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Highlights
GAO discussed the potential of federal hospitals to reduce energy consumption and costs through improved energy management.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require that the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force: (1) conduct technical audits in federal hospitals using qualified energy personnel; (2) establish for each federal hospital quantifiable energy conservation goals based on its energy-saving potential; (3) direct federal hospitals to maintain data and report on their energy use; (4) provide their hospitals comprehensive information on low-cost conservation measures applicable to hospitals; (5) direct federal hospitals to implement cost-effective, low-cost conservation measures; (6) monitor the results of energy-saving efforts in federal hospitals and take action to ensure that feasible conservation measures are implemented when these results are not satisfactory; and (7) reset hospitals' energy conservation goals based on results of technical audits or when formerly established goals have been reached and cost-effective measures still remain. |
Closed – Implemented
The services continue to implement these recommendations. Full implementation depends on completion of technical audits of all hospitals. The Department of Defense (DOD) expects that all audits will be completed within the next several years, assuming that funding support is available.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require that the Secretary of the Navy: (1) conduct technical audits in federal hospitals using qualified energy personnel; (2) establish for each federal hospital quantifiable energy conservation goals based on its energy-saving potential; (3) provide its hospitals comprehensive information on low-cost conservation measures applicable to hospitals; (4) direct federal hospitals to implement cost-effective, low-cost conservation measures; (5) monitor the results of energy-saving efforts in federal hospitals and take action to ensure that feasible conservation measures are implemented when these results are not satisfactory; and (6) reset hospitals' energy conservation goals based on results of technical audits or when formerly established goals have been reached and cost-effective measures still remain. |
Closed – Implemented
The services have on ongoing program to conduct technical audits in all of their hospitals on a cyclical basis.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should require that the Indian Health Service: (1) establish for each federal hospital quantifiable energy conservation goals based on its energy-saving potential; (2) direct federal hospitals to maintain data and report on their energy use; (3) provide its hospitals comprehensive information on low-cost conservation measures applicable to hospitals; (4) direct federal hospitals to implement cost-effective, low-cost conservation measures; (5) monitor the results of energy-saving efforts in federal hospitals and take action to ensure that feasible conservation measures are implemented when these results are not satisfactory; and (6) reset hospitals' energy conservation goals based on results of technical audits or when formerly established goals have been reached and cost-effective measures still remain. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) achieved a 20-percent reduction in Indian Health Service hospital energy consumption by fiscal year 1985 and set a higher-future goal.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should: (1) conduct technical audits in federal hospitals using qualified energy personnel; (2) direct federal hospitals to implement cost-effective, low-cost conservation measures; (3) monitor the results of energy-saving efforts in federal hospitals and take action to ensure that feasible conservation measures are implemented when these results are not satisfactory; and (4) reset hospitals' energy conservation goals based on results of technical audits or when formerly established goals have been reached and cost-effective measures still remain. |
Closed – Implemented
The Veterans Administration (VA) agreed with the recommendations, but stated that most had already been implemented and no further actions were intended as a result of the report. However, GAO review found that, despite the actions already taken, more could be done.
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Topics
Comparative analysisCost analysisEnergy managementEnergy conservationEnergy costsEnergy efficiencyFacility managementFederal facilitiesHospital administrationHospitals