Energy efficiency and reducing your carbon footprint are key objectives in the medical industry today. Whether it is the impact on the environment or just the desire to go green, medical facilities are seeking new, alternative renewable fuel sources.
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new standards under the Clean Air Act to improve the nation's air quality. Health institutions are now looking for renewable energy options to reduce their impact on the environment. In addition, earlier this year healthcare sector leaders urged President Obama to invest in alternative energy and green jobs in healthcare under the Renewable Energy and Green Healthcare Jobs Initiative.
One option for health institutions is to utilize alternative renewable fuel sources in boilers and generators to heat and power buildings. Generally, alternative fuels have been perceived as costing more than traditional fossil fuels. However, that is not the case. Some biofuels in today's market are cost-competitive with existing fuel oils, and include the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.
It can seem like a daunting task for hospitals to build new green construction or retrofit older buildings. In reality, one simple way to reduce a carbon footprint is to switch to an alternative fuel with lower emissions – with no capital costs for construction or retrofitting. Switching boilers from standard diesel fuel to a biofuel can have a significant, positive impact on a building's carbon footprint and emissions for medical facilities. But what exactly is biofuel?
Biofuel can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from, renewable, recently living biological material—most commonly plants. This is in contrast to fossil fuels, which are derived from non-renewable biological material formed from decayed remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Benefits of biofuel include the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy independence through the growth of domestic energy sources to establish a sustainable, renewable future energy supply.
But are all biofuels the same? No. Biodiesels have been on the market for a while, but now health institutions can take advantage of second-generation biofuels, which are not only sustainable but are also cost competitive with traditional fuels. Second-generation biofuels are ready to use in boiler applications as a 100% replacement for distillate fuels without mixing or blending with other fuels, complicated equipment modification, or loss of significant engine performance.
Medical facilities switching to biofuel may receive incentives at the local, state, or federal level encouraging them to reduce their carbon footprint. New governmental programs such as the recently proposed Carbon Cap and Trade legislation foster clean-energy technologies while eliminating pollution. In this scenario, Carbon, NOX, and SO2 credits will potentially be available to offset against overall emission levels.
This newly proposed legislation is particularly interesting for health facilities because of the numerous health issues associated with both NOX and SOX emissions including respiratory issues caused from "acid rain" and the aggravation of existing heart and lung diseases. The Carbon Cap and Trade legislation has the potential to convert "waste streams to profit streams" by significantly improving the public's overall health and welfare.
The reduction of a facility's carbon footprint is growing in importance with no signs of slowing down. Thus, the question for health institutions becomes not if they are going to make a switch to alternative energy, but rather when. Biofuels are the easy answer for organizations looking to make a quick, low cost change with a great impact. Easy to implement as a boiler fuel, with no capital modifications, biofuel can significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. A simple fuel switch offers a perfect renewable energy option for medical facilities.
Phil Wallis is the Chief Marketing Officer for New Generation Biofuels. Phil joined New Generation Biofuels in January 2008 and previously worked for Chevron Corporation where he held several senior level marketing positions including Manager, Regional Sales and Solutions for Asia Pacific and Africa.
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