Energy consumption and building layouts of public hospital buildings: A survey of 30 buildings in the cold region of China

The energy consumption in hospitals is intensive owing to the complex building functions, high density of electrical equipment for diagnosis and treatment, and long hours of operation. This study focuses on the building layout patterns and energy efficiency of hospitals in the cold climate region of China. The building layout and energy consumption of 30 hospitals from 2015 to 2017 are collected and analysed. According to the survey data, the average energy consumption per unit area of Class 3A hospitals in the cold region increased by 5.3% from 2015 to 2017. The total energy consumption per unit area in summer was higher than that in winter, with remarkable heating and cooling demands. The building layout of comprehensive clinics can be categorised into the following five types: centralised arrangement, linear arrangement of multiple wings, linear arrangement of courtyards, grid courtyards, and mixed arrangement. Among these, the energy savings rate of the grid courtyardtype arrangement is the highest (16.3%). Three types of layouts are noted for inpatient buildings: 'L'-shaped layout, 'I'-shaped layout, and '(sic)'-shaped layout. Among these, the 'L'-shaped layout is the most energy efficient, with the energy savings rate reaching 5.9%. Corresponding energy-saving strategies are developed in the present investigation. These can provide guidance for architects in the early design stages.