Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Ore., received roughly $200,000 from a local nonprofit as an incentive for investing in new energy efficiency projects, according to a Herald and News report.
The Energy Trust of Oregon awarded the money to Sky Lakes, a 176-bed independent hospital. During the past year, Sky Lakes invested in new digitally controlled thermostats, new energy-efficient cooling towers and high-efficiency pumps and motors in its heating and cooling system, according to the report.
Sky Lakes expects it will save $52,300 in utility costs every year due to the upgrades, and it will cut its carbon footprint by almost 300 tons. The hospital also conducted lighting upgrades across its facility, saving roughly $42,300 per year in energy costs.
The Energy Trust has given Sky Lakes more than $300,000 in incentives this year, helping to defray some of the costs. Although the cost of the two-year energy efficiency project was $2.5 million, executives said the return on investment will be felt immediately.
"I am pleased that the hospital is able to reduce its annual operating budget while also reducing its carbon footprint," Sky Lakes CFO Richard Rico said in the report.
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