IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i14p11450-d1201239.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Importance of Investing in the Energy Refurbishment of Hospitals: Results of a Case Study in a Mediterranean Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Rosa Francesca De Masi

    (Department of Engineering (DING), University of Sannio, Piazza Roma, 21, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Nicoletta Del Regno

    (Department of Medicine and Health Sciences—Vincenzo Tiberio, University of Molise, Via G. Paolo II Contrada “Tappino”, 86100 Campobasso, Italy)

  • Antonio Gigante

    (Department of Engineering (DING), University of Sannio, Piazza Roma, 21, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Silvia Ruggiero

    (Department of Engineering (DING), University of Sannio, Piazza Roma, 21, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Alessandro Russo

    (Department of Engineering (DING), University of Sannio, Piazza Roma, 21, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Francesco Tariello

    (Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Via F. De Sanctis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Peter Vanoli

    (Department of Medicine and Health Sciences—Vincenzo Tiberio, University of Molise, Via G. Paolo II Contrada “Tappino”, 86100 Campobasso, Italy)

Abstract

Because of the social importance of hospitals, characterized by energy-intensive users, large-scale refurbishment projects for these types of buildings are required. With the aim of helping researchers and designers, this paper proposes a multistage methodological approach for the optimization of retrofit designs based on energy, environmental, and economic indicators. Some guidelines are also highlighted thanks to the results obtained from a case study of a private hospital in Naples (Southern Italy, Mediterranean climate) located in a constrained landscape area. The first step consists of the calibration of a simulation energy model defined via in situ investigations, direct surveys and monitoring of energy loads and indoor quality. Then, the model is used to verify the effectiveness of several efficiency measures regarding the building envelope, the active energy systems, and the energy conversion from renewables in order to minimize the energy demand with acceptable economic profitability. This case study demonstrates that electricity demand can be reduced by up to 48% with an investment of around EUR 720,030.00; the payback time without national incentives is 10 years, but it can be halved with appropriate financial support.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa Francesca De Masi & Nicoletta Del Regno & Antonio Gigante & Silvia Ruggiero & Alessandro Russo & Francesco Tariello & Giuseppe Peter Vanoli, 2023. "The Importance of Investing in the Energy Refurbishment of Hospitals: Results of a Case Study in a Mediterranean Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11450-:d:1201239
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11450/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11450/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Tao & Li, Xiaodong & Liao, Pin-Chao & Fang, Dongping, 2016. "Building energy efficiency for public hospitals and healthcare facilities in China: Barriers and drivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 588-597.
    2. Zini, Marco & Carcasci, Carlo, 2023. "Machine learning-based monitoring method for the electricity consumption of a healthcare facility in Italy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    3. Dong Kon Hwang & Jinkyun Cho & Junghwan Moon, 2019. "Feasibility Study on Energy Audit and Data Driven Analysis Procedure for Building Energy Efficiency: Bench-Marking in Korean Hospital Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Hyeongjin Moon & Jae-Young Jeon & Yujin Nam, 2020. "Development of Optimal Design Method for Ground-Source Heat-Pump System Using Particle Swarm Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Bujak, Janusz Wojciech, 2015. "Production of waste energy and heat in hospital facilities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 350-362.
    6. Kantola, Mikko & Saari, Arto, 2013. "Renewable vs. traditional energy management solutions – A Finnish hospital facility case," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 539-545.
    7. Zhuang, Dian & Gan, Vincent J.L. & Duygu Tekler, Zeynep & Chong, Adrian & Tian, Shuai & Shi, Xing, 2023. "Data-driven predictive control for smart HVAC system in IoT-integrated buildings with time-series forecasting and reinforcement learning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    8. Buonomano, Annamaria & Calise, Francesco & Ferruzzi, Gabriele & Palombo, Adolfo, 2014. "Dynamic energy performance analysis: Case study for energy efficiency retrofits of hospital buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 555-572.
    9. Setare Peirow & Fatemeh Razi Astaraei & Amirali Saifoddin Asl, 2023. "Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System for a Hospital Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-22, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Psillaki & Nikolaos Apostolopoulos & Ilias Makris & Panagiotis Liargovas & Sotiris Apostolopoulos & Panos Dimitrakopoulos & George Sklias, 2023. "Hospitals’ Energy Efficiency in the Perspective of Saving Resources and Providing Quality Services through Technological Options: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Fan, Yee Van & Jiang, Peng, 2020. "The energy and environmental footprints of COVID-19 fighting measures – PPE, disinfection, supply chains," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    3. Małgorzata Cygańska & Magdalena Kludacz-Alessandri, 2021. "Determinants of Electrical and Thermal Energy Consumption in Hospitals According to Climate Zones in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Atienza-Márquez, Antonio & Domínguez Muñoz, Fernando & Fernández Hernández, Francisco & Cejudo López, José Manuel, 2022. "Domestic hot water production system in a hospital: Energy audit and evaluation of measures to boost the solar contribution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    5. Francesco Calise & Francesco Liberato Cappiello & Luca Cimmino & Massimo Dentice d’Accadia & Maria Vicidomini, 2024. "A Novel Layout for Combined Heat and Power Production for a Hospital Based on a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, February.
    6. Jihwan Yeon & Seoki Lee & Phillip M Jolly & Anna S Mattila, 2023. "The impact of environmental management on firm performance in the U.S. lodging REITs: The moderating role of outside board of directors," Tourism Economics, , vol. 29(2), pages 513-532, March.
    7. Calise, Francesco & Dentice d'Accadia, Massimo & Libertini, Luigi & Quiriti, Edoardo & Vicidomini, Maria, 2017. "A novel tool for thermoeconomic analysis and optimization of trigeneration systems: A case study for a hospital building in Italy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 64-87.
    8. Ruan, Jujun & Huang, Zhe & Huang, Jiaxin & Yuan, Zhihui & Huang, Mingzhi & Du, Changming & Zhang, Tao & Qiu, Rongliang, 2018. "A novel pneumatic separator for separating diode and CD capacitance of waste printed circuit boards," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 191-195.
    9. Konečná, Eva & Teng, Sin Yong & Máša, Vítězslav, 2020. "New insights into the potential of the gas microturbine in microgrids and industrial applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    10. Amjad Almusaed & Ibrahim Yitmen & Asaad Almssad, 2023. "Reviewing and Integrating AEC Practices into Industry 6.0: Strategies for Smart and Sustainable Future-Built Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-27, September.
    11. Tuan-Viet Hoang & Pouya Ifaei & Kijeon Nam & Jouan Rashidi & Soonho Hwangbo & Jong-Min Oh & ChangKyoo Yoo, 2018. "Optimal Management of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System Coupled with a Membrane Bioreactor Using Enviro-Economic and Power Pinch Analyses for Sustainable Climate Change Adaption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Calise, Francesco & Dentice d'Accadia, Massimo & Figaj, Rafal Damian & Vanoli, Laura, 2016. "A novel solar-assisted heat pump driven by photovoltaic/thermal collectors: Dynamic simulation and thermoeconomic optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 346-366.
    13. Cui, Can & Xue, Jing, 2024. "Energy and comfort aware operation of multi-zone HVAC system through preference-inspired deep reinforcement learning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    14. Hashim Raza Khan & Wajahat Ahmed & Wasiq Masud & Urooj Alam & Kamran Arshad & Khaled Assaleh & Saad Ahmed Qazi, 2024. "Design and Experimental Results of an AIoT-Enabled, Energy-Efficient Ceiling Fan System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-18, June.
    15. Janusz Bujak & Piotr Sitarz & Rafał Pasela, 2021. "Possibilities for Reducing CO and TOC Emissions in Thermal Waste Treatment Plants: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-11, May.
    16. Louise Sawyer & Simon Kemp & Patrick James & Michael Harper, 2021. "Assessment of a Nurse Led Energy Behavior Change Intervention in an NHS Community Hospital Ward," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    17. Capozzoli, Alfonso & Piscitelli, Marco Savino & Neri, Francesco & Grassi, Daniele & Serale, Gianluca, 2016. "A novel methodology for energy performance benchmarking of buildings by means of Linear Mixed Effect Model: The case of space and DHW heating of out-patient Healthcare Centres," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 592-607.
    18. Sara Ghaem Sigarchian & Anders Malmquist & Viktoria Martin, 2018. "Design Optimization of a Complex Polygeneration System for a Hospital," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-24, April.
    19. Calise, Francesco & Figaj, Rafal Damian & Massarotti, Nicola & Mauro, Alessandro & Vanoli, Laura, 2017. "Polygeneration system based on PEMFC, CPVT and electrolyzer: Dynamic simulation and energetic and economic analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 530-542.
    20. Loprete, Jason & Trojanowski, Rebecca & Butcher, Thomas & Longtin, Jon & Assanis, Dimitris, 2024. "Enabling residential heating decarbonization through hydronic low-temperature thermal distribution using forced-air assistive devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11450-:d:1201239. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.