Domestic Hot Water Project at Changshoushan International Nursing Home: Pioneering a New Chapter in Green and Energy-Efficient Senior Care

In today’s society, as people’s demands for a better quality of life continue to rise, the pursuit of a comfortable, healthy, and eco-friendly living environment has become increasingly important—especially in the senior care sector. Located in Licheng District, Jinan City, Changshoushan International Nursing Home has proactively responded to the concept of green development by introducing an advanced combined solution of "solar energy + air-source heat pumps." This initiative has injected green vitality into the nursing home’s daily operations and opened a new chapter in green, energy-efficient senior care.

As a key district in Jinan, Licheng District boasts unique geographical and climatic conditions. It has distinct four seasons and relatively abundant solar resources, providing a natural advantage for the utilization of solar energy. Meanwhile, its mild climate ensures the efficient and stable operation of air-source heat pumps. When selecting its location, Changshoushan International Nursing Home not only considered the suitability of the surrounding environment for the elderly but also created favorable conditions for adopting the innovative "solar energy + air-source heat pumps" combination solution.

The combined "solar energy + air-source heat pumps" solution integrates the advantages of two energy technologies, making it an efficient and eco-friendly energy solution. Solar energy, an inexhaustible and renewable clean energy source, is characterized by zero pollution and sustainability. By installing a large number of solar collectors, the nursing home can fully capture solar radiation energy, convert it into thermal energy, and use it to heat domestic water. These solar collectors, like energy harvesters, are neatly arranged on the nursing home’s rooftops or open spaces. Under sunlight, they efficiently absorb every ray of sunshine and convert solar energy into usable thermal energy.

Air-source heat pumps, on the other hand, are devices that heat water using heat from the air. They transfer low-grade thermal energy to high-grade thermal energy by consuming a small amount of electrical energy. In Changshoushan International Nursing Home’s project, air-source heat pumps serve as a strong supplement to the solar energy system and play a crucial role. When solar energy is insufficient—such as on cloudy or rainy days, or at night—air-source heat pumps automatically start up, absorb heat from the air, and ensure a continuous supply of domestic hot water. Their working principle is based on the reverse Carnot cycle: the compressor compresses the refrigerant to increase its temperature, then transfers the heat to the water in the tank, thereby heating the water. Compared with traditional electric or gas heating methods, this equipment is highly energy-efficient and significantly reduces energy consumption.

The combined solution enables the nursing home to achieve a stable year-round hot water supply. It is understood that the project can produce up to 150 tons of hot water per day, which fully meets the domestic hot water needs of the nursing home’s large number of elderly residents and staff. At the same time, it also caters to the nursing home’s heating needs. Whether for daily washing and bathing or indoor heating in winter, a stable and comfortable hot water supply is guaranteed, greatly enhancing the living comfort of the nursing home.

In terms of energy-saving benefits, the project has achieved remarkable results. Professional calculations show that it can save 600,000 kWh of electricity annually. This figure means that Changshoushan International Nursing Home has significantly reduced its energy consumption. Taking an average household’s monthly electricity consumption of 100 kWh as a reference, 600,000 kWh of electricity can supply 6,000 ordinary households for one month. Such a large-scale electricity saving not only helps the nursing home cut a substantial amount of electricity expenses (with direct economic benefits reaching 420,000 yuan per year) but also eases the supply pressure on the power grid, playing a positive role in alleviating regional electricity shortages.

From an environmental perspective, the project has also delivered outstanding outcomes. It reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 575 tons, sulfur dioxide by 4.7 tons, and dust by 2.3 tons annually. As a major greenhouse gas, reducing carbon dioxide emissions is of great significance for addressing global climate change. Excessive carbon dioxide emissions can lead to a rise in global temperatures, triggering a series of environmental problems such as glacial melting and sea-level rise. By using clean energy, the project effectively reduces carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to mitigating climate change. The reduction in sulfur dioxide and dust has also significantly improved the air quality in the surrounding area. Sulfur dioxide is one of the main pollutants causing acid rain; reducing its emissions helps minimize the harm of acid rain to soil, water bodies, and vegetation. Less dust makes the surrounding air cleaner, providing a healthier living environment for the elderly and local residents.

Furthermore, the successful implementation of the domestic hot water project at Changshoushan International Nursing Home has set a model for green development in the senior care industry. With the acceleration of population aging, the number of elderly care institutions is constantly increasing, and their energy demand is growing day by day. The experience of this project can serve as a reference for other senior care institutions, promoting the entire industry to move toward green, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly development. In the future, it is expected that more senior care institutions will follow Changshoushan International Nursing Home’s example and adopt similar green energy solutions. This will not only reduce operating costs but also create a better and healthier living environment for the elderly, contributing to the sustainable development of society.