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Background: Among large commercial buildings, inpatient health buildings in the United States are the most intensive users of water and electricity for moving and treating that water. Methods for reducing and offsetting water usage are needed, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the country.
Method: We used continuous simulations based on neural network forecasts of daily rainfall (71-year horizon), as well as daily historical data from the past 71-years to estimate how rainwater harvesting systems and demand-side interventions (e.g., low-flow devices, xeriscaping) would offset externally-provided water source demand in a semi-arid region.
Findings: Results demonstrated that hospital external water consumption might be reduced >25% using conservative assumptions and depending on design of experiments (DOE) parameters, as well as conservation efforts which necessarily reduces electrical demand for treating and moving water.
Conclusion: Design and redesign of hospitals should consider incorporating rainwater harvesting and demand-side controls, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where water is scarce, and the population is growing.
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