U.S. Energy Department aids hospitals

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Energy Department has launched an EnergySmart Hospitals Initiative.

The initiative, launched last week, will help hospitals across the nation apply more energy-efficient technologies, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reported.

The program will include assistance with design, technology assessments, case studies, training sessions and an interactive Web site.

The goal is to increase energy efficiency in existing hospitals by 20 percent and in new hospitals by 30 percent.

Energy efficiency is one way hospitals can reduce their overall costs without negatively impacting the quality of patient care.

Hospitals are among the highest consumers of energy and are often large contributors to carbon dioxide emissions.