Description

Health care facilities represent one of the largest and most intensive energy consumers in many communities. Thus, they often have a substantial interest in sustainable development and may aim to serve as successful models of sound environmental and fiscal stewardship by employing energy conservation strategies that reduce operating costs. However, there are limitations on the ability of health care facilities to provide the necessary capital for the increasingly complex new facilities needed to meet sustainability objectives.

The ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 189.3 was developed parallel to, yet separately from, ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 to address the sustainability of health care facilities. The intent of this standard is to bridge the goal of sustainability offered in Standard 189.1 with the practical realities expressed by the health care field. Furthermore, this standard provides procedures for the integration of sustainable principles into the health care facility design, construction, and operation process including: integrated design, conservation of water, conservation of energy, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) practices, construction practices, commissioning, and operations and maintenance.