Water
GOAL: 10% reduction in consumption per square foot by 2030
Goal Update
System-Wide Baseline (2020): 45.31 gal/sq ft
Current (September 2023 – August 2024): 41.49 gal/sq ft (8% decrease)
Goal (2030): 40.78 gal/sq ft (10% reduction)
Water Increases
Overall, MHS’s water use has increased year over year, but so too has the impacts of warmer summers that are starting earlier in the year and the required changes in operation practices due to COVID 19. The warmer springs have necessitated the early start of campus irrigation systems and driven up demand for building cooling, resulting in higher water demands. The changes made in response to COVID 19 are being phased out as of Q4 2023 and we expect to see water usage return to pre-COVID levels in 2024.
Recent Successes
Smart Irrigation Systems
Smart irrigation systems have been installed at all of the hospitals and larger medical office buildings, allowing for irrigation to be scheduled according to weather conditions. This helps us avoid running sprinklers while it’s raining, conserving water and energy.
Premium Dashboard
Methodist building managers now have access to a premium dashboard that depicts all of Methodist Health System’s building energy and water usage. The dashboard provides customizable views of utility usage to allow for faster analysis and response to trend abnormalities.
Upcoming Efforts
Smart Irrigation Systems
We will continue to deploy smart irrigation technologies across locations.
Chiller Upgrades
Mechanical upgrades will include more efficient chillers, which should also result in a decrease in water needed to cool our spaces.
Native Landscaping
Exploring landscaping that incorporates native and drought-tolerant plant varieties reduces the need for irrigation and provides other environmental benefits, such as pollinator habitat and carbon sequestration.
