Hospitals consume large amounts of electricity for the various processes they need. Apart from keeping emergency rooms open 24 hours a day, hospitals have to provide round-the-clock intensive care, operate laboratory equipment, and run operating rooms, on top of keeping stable conditions in wards.
Patient care is the primary function of hospitals, and individuals who need to stay at one need constant monitoring. They need consistent heating or cooling, to let their body recover from a procedure, or to facilitate convalescence. Steam boilers are so intertwined with hospital procedures that they need boiler rentals in case their in-house one breaks.
For hospitals to carry out their duties, they need two types of energy; mechanical, which powers lights and other technological tools, and heat, which produces hot water and keeps rooms at certain temperatures. Steam boilers provide both heat and mechanical energy of hospitals.
A multipurpose solution for hospital needs
A steam boiler provides more than just energy to hospitals. They can also be used in maintenance and operations; since hospitals need to clean hundreds of bedsheets a day, a boiler can be used to steam the laundry.
Boilers are also a source of hot water, which is necessary for treatments, surgery, and other tasks. From space heating to independence from the central grid, to hot water for sterilising equipment, a steam boiler assists hospital procedures in different ways.
Steam boilers are green and energy-efficient
Since steam boilers take on some of the functions of conventional HVAC systems, they help drive cooling costs down. An HVAC, especially an older system, is energy-intensive and can drive up a building’s electricity bill. Steam boilers are reliant on natural gas for power, which greatly reduces the hospital’s energy consumption.
However, not all boilers are created equal. Some older models are just as wasteful and expensive to run as an HVAC system. They are also prone to breaking and might need assistance from temporary boilers just to get things running.
Furthermore, boilers need to treat water in a way that prevents internal corrosion. A healthcare facility that relies on a boiler should look into environmentally friendly models with LEED certifications showing they are fit for medical use.
They need to be in top condition
A hospital boiler can operate for 20 to about 35 years. Though boilers do not need frequent parts replacements, the equipment can be expensive and labour-intensive to install. A new boiler might even force a hospital shutdown. This is the reason why many hospitals delay upgrading for as long as they can.
The longer they wait, though, the more inefficient their boilers become. Machines that need to exert more effort in producing the same results often require higher amounts of energy, which leads to higher consumption and greater operating costs.
Upgrading to more efficient boilers
There are steam boilers on the market that are targeted specifically for hospitals and their needs. A new boiler means increased capacity for energy, sanitation, kitchen, and temperature regulation needs.
New boilers are also more compact, which saves on space, and can run on green fuels like natural gas. Furthermore, it will also be able to provide support for future hospital expansions and the construction of new wings or laboratories.
Conclusion
Selecting the steam boiler for your hospital requires a thorough evaluation of your current energy capacity and a plan for replacing the old boilers. While you are working through your plan, you need to rent a boiler to augment your processes.
If you need a backup boiler for your building, get in touch with London Climate Hire today. We provide temporary boiler services for your commercial facility. Contact us today for more information.