Healthcare group to educate members about energy efficiency

July 12 -- The American Society for Healthcare Engineering is launching a two-year campaign to educate its members about the environmental and economic benefits of pursuing energy efficiency improvements in health care facilities.

ASHE, part of the American Hospital Association, is undertaking the effort as part of its decision to join the Environmental Protection Agency´s Energy Star Challenge.

As a participant in the challenge, ASHE is pledging to identify hospitals with successful energy programs and develop case studies of their energy management methods; produce an energy efficiency section on the ASHE Web site; and recognize members for energy efficiency improvements of 10 percent or more.

ASHE estimates that in the first year of the campaign, members will save more than $65 million on energy costs, while preventing the release of nearly 3 million pounds of greenhouse gases.

Details about the Energy Star Challenge are available at www.energystar.gov/challenge.