In spring 2009, Efficiency Direct won a tender to analyse, and make recommendations to reduce, the energy consumption at a large teaching hospital.
Initially, a thorough survey of the hospital was conducted to identify and highlight areas where energy reductions were possible. Several areas where improvements could be made were identified as follows :-
- fitted BMS system not utilised to minimise energy use
- air handling units – heating fighting cooling
- air handling units – dirty and frost coils partially blocked
- steam traps passing steam by
- insulation missing from many areas of steam and heating pipework
- lack of awareness amongst management and staff on energy reduction issues
- installed M&T system incomplete and inaccurate in some areas
- lack of lighting controls in the hospital
The findings were reported to the hospital management and Efficiency Direct were commissioned to project manage the remedial works. In a short space of time the following work was completed :-
- BMS strategy reviewed and developed to improve energy efficiency
- BMS system timers configured to switch off equipment that was not required to run overnight
- Air handling units cleaned and flow rates checked
- Air handling units mixing valves/actuators replaced and commissioned
- Air handling equipment fitted with variable speed drives where appropriate
- Defective steam traps replaced
- A full steam audit of the site was arranged and completed
In a very short space of time significant annual savings have been achieved as detailed below :-
- over £48,000 (or 533,000kWh of electricity) by optimising the BMS system
- over £12,000 (or 620,000kWh) by replacing defective steam traps
- savings on gas costs have yet to be verified
Phase 1 has proved very successful, phase 2 is just about to start. This case study will be updated regularly.
.jpg "Hospital energy reduction programme")
.JPG "Energy cost reduction")
