Energy saving strategies for the new design Meyer Hospital in Florence

The article is referring to the Researchunder the European Union’s Fifth Framework Programme for RTD, entitled “ HOSPITALS- EXEMPLAR ENERGY COUNSCIOUS EUROPEAN HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS” (EU Contract NO: NNE5-2001-00295), with a five Hospital buildings selected as demonstrative case studies. The implementation of sustainable energy systems is an objective of the European Union’s energy policy. This policy aims to support and promote secure energy supplies with a high quality of service at competitive prices and in an environmentally compatible manner. The HOSPITALS initiative aims to demonstrate that renewable energy technologies may be used with very positive results within the European health care building sector and in this way encourage the exploitation of renewable energy. This article aims to illustrate methods of obtaining large energy savings using bioclimatic design strategies from the fi rst stage of building design. The amount of energy saved and the resulting reduction in CO2 emissions are quantified.