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FACILITYCARE EMAIL REPORT
April 22, 2008 http://www.facilitycare.com

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Study Confirms Energy Savings with LEED, ENERGY STAR Buildings
Two recent studies strengthen the "business case" for green buildings as financially sound investments. In addition to reduced energy use and reduced carbon emissions, third-party certified buildings outperform their conventional counterparts across a wide variety of metrics – including energy savings, occupancy rates, sale price and rental rates.

The studies, conducted by the New Buildings Institute and by CoStar Group, also found that energy savings under EPA's ENERGY STAR program are equally impressive: buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR label use an average of almost 40 percent less energy than average buildings, and emit 35 percent less carbon.

In the NBI study, the results indicate that new buildings certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification system are, on average, performing 25-30 percent better than non-LEED certified buildings in terms of energy use. The study also demonstrates that there is a correlation between increasing levels of LEED certification and increased energy savings.

For more information, visit usgbc.org/LEED, energystar.gov, newbuildings.org, and costar.com.

UL Announces Water QualityCheck Program for Healthcare Facilities
Underwriters Laboratories recently announced its new Water QualityCheck program that will help managers of public and private facilities to identify and assess risks associated with drinking water quality. UL is initially focusing its program on healthcare facilities.

By partnering with UL, facility managers may now be more proactive in assessing water quality risks such as Legionella, as well as other potential contaminants.

The Water QualityCheck program specifically monitors and tests for biological and chemical contaminants in a facility's water supply that may have been previously overlooked. Currently, the Safe Water Drinking Act does not regulate for contaminants in a municipal water supply as it comes through a service line to a building and into the tap. UL's Water QualityCheck program will help facility owners better manage this water quality gap, fulfilling a need in this area.

For more information, visit ul.com/water.

Joint Commission Launches Health Literacy Campaign
The Joint Commission is launching a national campaign to help Americans prevent healthcare errors by promoting "health literacy"--the ability of patients to obtain, process and understand the basic information and services needed to make appropriate decisions regarding their health. The new education campaign is part of the commission's national Speak Up program that helps patients become more informed and involved in their healthcare.

For some patients, navigating the health system can be daunting. Complex forms, conversations with doctors, medication instructions, and coping with a real or perceived lack of attention from hospital personnel all place high demands on patients. Factor in the growing number of people who must manage one or more chronic health conditions, and the impacts of health literacy are profound, the commission said in its news release.

Speak Up brochures are available in an easy-to-read format and can be found at jointcommission.org.

Turning the Sterilizer Inside Out
By Wayne Hibbs

Since the 1800s, when the importance of sterilization in surgery was first demonstrated, sterilization has been achieved by placing objects inside controlled chambers or vessels and applying high-temperature steam and pressure, or low-temperature chemical washes, dips or plasma. Now, though, the rapid rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in healthcare settings has increased the need for "outside-the-box" sterilization of large spaces. The MRSA organism remains on environmental surfaces long after the patient has moved. Traditional surface cleaning wipe-down procedures have been found to spread this organism.

As clinical engineers, we look at methods to sterilize an entire contaminated area without damaging the medical equipment in the area. This has applications in surgery, ICU, ED and other locations where a patient with MRSA may have been treated. One solution mirrors a pest control procedure used in the southern United States as well as Europe: An entire house is covered with a vinyl tent, and a remote-controlled "Bug Bomb" is detonated inside. The tent is secured and taped so that it is air-tight. Current applications in industrial settings and pharmaceutical manufacturing use the same process, with a hydrogen peroxide vapor. Using a four-stage process of dehumidification, vaporizing, circulation and aeration, this process effectively transforms a contained area into a sterilization chamber. With this process, all medical equipment and clinical surfaces inside the area can be sterilized without direct contact.

For existing facilities, the critical component in this process is a requirement to seal the area — including doors and HVAC ducts — during the sterilization. As soon as the treatment is complete, the room can be cleaned and returned to service.

Wayne Hibbs is president of LifeStructures Technology Planning of Indianapolis, Ind. He is a certified clinical engineer who specializes in medical technology analysis and applications.

This presentation will provide an overview of the core concepts that define a green health care facility and an update on the development of the LEED(r) Application Guide for Health Care and the Green Guide for Health Care metric tools. The majority of the program will focus on specific design opportunities and case studies from Green Guide for Health Care Pilot projects and other green health care facilities.

Click Here to Register

Questions About this AudioConference CD? Call 1-800-431-7571

Q: HVAC Maintenance
We are working toward LEED accreditation for our facility. Is there anything we can do with our air filtration system to help obtain LEED credits?
J.M., Denver, Colo.

A: The proper HVAC air filtration system can have a positive effect on both indoor air quality and energy efficiency -- two main tenets of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program from the U.S. Green Building Council. Upgrading from low-efficiency filters to filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value of 13 or higher generates a direct LEED credit. MERV 13 filters will improve IAQ by removing higher percentages of smaller particles from indoor air. The LEED program also specifies that MERV 8 filters be used during any construction and renovation activities. Following this construction an IAQ management plan can generate an additional direct LEED credit.

HVAC filters also play a significant role in the energy used to operate the HVAC system. Generally, the lower the filter's resistance to air passing through it, the lower the energy consumption will be. Switching to a lower pressure drop filter is one of the easiest changes for healthcare facilities to make in an effort to reduce energy costs. Although there are no direct LEED credits tied to air filters, proper selection of air filters follows the principles of the LEED program with respect to energy optimization and conservation.

Reduction in energy use can be tied to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well. The LEED program awards credits for monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing air filters with a low resistance to airflow, energy is conserved and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced at the power plant level.

Keep in mind that switching to a filter with a lower resistance to airflow can often be made without any sacrifice in filtration efficiency – allowing healthcare facilities to improve IAQ, reduce energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. For more details on which LEED-EB Rating Categories can be addressed with the proper air filtration strategy, visit the Resource Center at kcfiltration.com and download the free "Filtering out Confusion" educational pamphlet: A Guide to Understanding the Role of HVAC in LEED Certification.
Dave Matela, CAFS, Market Manager, Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products, dmatela@kcc.com.

2008 Call For Audio Conference Presentations
Want to share your expertise and experience with others in the field of healthcare facility management? FaciltyCare's audio conferences can help you do just that. Click Here to submit a session proposal. If chosen, you will gain increased visibility with the inclusion of your information on pre-conference electronic and print promotions reaching more than 40,000 facility managers and executives.

Humidity Meter
The 445815 Humidity Alert Meter is designed to monitor environmental conditions including temperature, humidity and dew point in laboratories, storage areas, manufacturing assembly areas and other controlled environments. The meter has a user-settable alarm and warns users audibly and visually when adverse conditions occur. The meter has a remote probe that can clip onto the meter or extend on an 18-inch cable, allowing users to take measurements behind walls, in ducts or other difficult to access areas. It can be field-calibrated with an optional calibration kit. Extech Instruments, Waltham, Mass. For more information, or visit extech.com.

Containment Pallet
The PIG Single Drum Pallet Roll Top Hardcover is designed to provide protected storage and non-hazardous liquid containment for a frequently accessed drum. Constructed of low-density polyethylene construction with UV inhibitors, the unit is weather-tight and grim-hiding gray in color and can be used indoor or out. It aids in compliance with 40 CFR 122.26, 40 CFR 262.34 (c) (1) and 40 CFR 264.175, and is available with or without a drain. New Pig Corp, Tipton, Pa. For more information, visit newpig.com.

Bird Netting
K-Net High Tensile Bird Netting is designed for architectural and structural applications, and is available in black and stone colors. The netting offers high strength and seamless construction, and is recommended for use in airplane hangars, church steeples, building facades, sports arenas, bridges and more. Nixalite of America, East Moline, Ill. For more information, visit nixalite.com.

Light Bulb Lubricant
BULB EZ is a lightweight lubricant for all types of light bulbs and lamps, designed to prevent socket freeze, cross-threading and breakage. The product is used on the mechanical interface between a light bulb or lamp and its socket. The addition of a new line of products includes an easy-to-use pad form and larger, convenient containers for all types of lighting installations. The product is non-toxic, odorless, non-corrosive and environmentally safe. Copperwolf, Nevada City, Calif. For more information, or visit bulbez.com.

April 30-May 2, International Facility Management Association's Industries Forum 2008, Hyatt Regency Tech Center Hotel, Denver
www.ifma.org/learning/events/if08.cfm

April 25, 2008 High Performance Hospitals & Medical Research Facilities IFMA seminar series kickoff, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, Calif.
www.squarefootage.net

May 4-7, International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) Annual Meeting, Silver Legacy Hotel, Reno, Nev.
www.iahcsmm.com