Natural Gas Reliability as a Public Health Essential
Whether it’s a sprained wrist from trying to relive a childhood outdoor game, the sniffles from an unexpected rain shower on an evening walk, or questionable leftovers you knew may not be good; hospital trips happen every day. When anyone walks into a hospital, they expect machines to be working properly, temperatures to be comfortable, and equipment to be clean. The way patients rely on hospitals for care would not be possible without the reliability of natural gas.
During the first week of April, National Public Health Week (NPHW) brings attention to the key issues that are shaping the well-being of citizens, encouraging health equity, and strengthening communities against health threats. When walking into a hospital, new patients want to be able to feel comfortable. That comfort is provided by natural gas through heating and sterilization. Seventy-four percent of U.S. hospitals use natural gas for space heating and water heating, meaning that not only are hospitals keeping the temperature pleasant during a visit, but they also keep everyone safe by cleaning equipment in high temperatures to kill germs.
Thunderstorms, heat waves, and windy days can all be reasons why the power can go out unexpectedly. Disasters don’t pause because of power outages, and because of natural gas, hospitals are able to continue to stay up and running. The U.S. healthcare sector consumes more than 271 billion cubic feet of natural gas, more than the annual consumption of 14 individual states. This includes natural gas-powered generators for continuous operation during critical moments.
Many communities are often concerned about the cost of healthcare. From a hospital stay to the prescriptions needed after a visit, without natural gas, mandated electrification would cost the healthcare sector an additional $16.3 billion through 2050. When hospitals choose natural gas, they are allowing patients to save on their healthcare.
Natural gas is also a critical feedstock for healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing. It’s used to create critical materials like disposable gloves, goggles, and medical masks, and lifesaving medications. Together, hospitals and natural gas are working to make sure communities can rely on their public health resources when they need it the most.