A Simulation of Rainwater Harvesting Design and Demand-Side Controls for Large Hospitals
Date
2018-05
Authors
Fulton, Lawrence V.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Abstract
Inpatient health buildings in the United States are the most intensive users of water among large commercial buildings. Large facilities (greater than 1 million square feet) consume an average of 90 million gallons per building per year. The distribution and treatment of water imposes a significant electrical power demand, which may be the single largest energy requirement for various states. Supply and demand-side solutions are needed, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where water is scarce. This study uses continuous simulations based on 71 years of historical data to estimate how rainwater harvesting systems and demand-side interventions (e.g., low-flow devices, xeriscaping) would offset the demand for externally-provided water sources in a semi-arid region. Simulations from time series models are used to generate alternative rainfall models to account for potential non-stationarity and volatility. Results demonstrate that hospital external water consumption might be reduced by approximately 25% using conservative assumptions and depending on the design of experiment parameters associated with rainfall capture area, building size, holding tank specifications, and conservation efforts.
Description
Keywords
sustainability, rainwater, RWH, hospitals, Health Administration
Citation
Fulton, L. V. (2018). A simulation of rainwater harvesting design and demand-side controls for large hospitals. Sustainability, 10(5): 1659.
Rights
Rights Holder
© 2018 The Author.
Rights License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.