5 Ways Running a Hospital Like a Plane to Cut Your Energy Costs

When Brian Weldy took the stage at HealthSpaces, he posed an intriguing question: what if we monitored our hospitals with the same precision as pilots monitor aircraft? After 40 years in healthcare facilities, he sees a disconnect between how we talk about building intelligence and how we actually manage our physical infrastructure.

Here's how thinking like a pilot could transform hospital operations:

1. Know Your Dashboard

Just like pilots rely on real-time instrument readings, Weldy showed how hospitals are moving beyond "simple monthly utility bills" to comprehensive monitoring. "We need to see something more like these gauges in our buildings to understand what direction the building is going, and how efficient is it working in real-time."

2. Monitor Every System's Vital Signs

Weldy demonstrated how monitoring individual systems - from surgery suites to elevators to imaging equipment - reveals patterns that affect both operations and costs. One example: tracking power usage in operating rooms showed not just when procedures happened, but caught inefficiencies like equipment left running after hours.

3. Rethink Your Crew

"Buildings in healthcare seem to have two main categories," Weldy explained. "You have those that are maintenance technicians and those that are system technicians." Like aviation's distinction between maintenance crews and systems specialists, hospitals need both hands-on fixers and data-driven analysts.

4. Use Data to Predict, Not Just React

Just as airlines use data to prevent issues before they occur, Weldy advocates shifting maintenance strategies from calendar-based to prescriptive. With machine learning and smart sensors providing real-time insights, facilities can move beyond reactive fixes to true predictive operations.

5. Focus on Efficiency First

With energy costs up over 22%, Weldy's approach is clear: "Invest and reduce energy conservation first, then augment with renewables. It's a one-two punch... reduce your load, then go after what you can't reduce anymore with renewables."

The stakes are significant. Weldy shared that a single MRI machine costs about $25,000 annually for electrical power. By treating buildings with the same precision as aircraft, hospitals can spot these costs and address them systematically.

"Do less for less," as Weldy puts it - but do it smarter, with data driving every decision. Just like you wouldn't fly a plane without instruments, it's time to stop running buildings without real-time insights.

‍

Watch full speach here: https://youtu.be/bCyGJVnKmuQ?si=lyE_JasC8bSF1czw

‍