Low energy as part of a flexible strategy in hospital design

It is well recognised that energy utilisation in hospitals often forms a significant element of the operation and revenue costs of such facilities. Whilst much attention continues to be focused on low energy, the importance of combining this within a flexible design strategy is often less well acknowledged. This paper highlights the need to consider energy when addressing flexibility in the design and planning of hospitals. It also shows how such an approach has been adopted in the UK's first low energy hospital, completed in 1990.