Energy Efficiency Case Studies

POUDRE VALLEY HOSPITAL

Fort Collins

Originally constructed in the 1920s, Poudre Valley Hospital (PVH) has grown gradually over the years and now houses 236 beds in 850,000 square feet of building areas. Poudre Valley Hospital provides innovative, high quality, comprehensive health care options to the people of northern Colorado, southern Wyoming, and western Nebraska.

PVH is a member of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering, and became interested in ASHE’s Healthcare Energy Project as a way to improve the energy performance of its campus. Since these initial efforts, PVH has relied on ENERGY STAR® as a benchmark for continually improving the energy efficiency of its facilities, and is an ENERGY STAR Labeled hospital.

To date, the following energy efficiency measures have been implemented:

• Lighting has been upgraded to T-8 and electronic ballasts whenever remodeling and facility expansion has occurred;
• LED exit signs have been installed;
• Two chillers have been overhauled – in one case the chilled water loop had been installed backwards, leading to a 5% boost in efficiency when repaired;
• Three boilers were overhauled;
• Efforts have been undertaken to more effectively seal the building; and
• Staff has been trained to solve energy efficiency problems while on the job.

The campus’ energy performance is tracked through usage information provided by the city of Fort Collins and through the billing process. Performance is shared with employees through a daily electronic newsletter, and upper management is updated during regular management meetings.

© 2003 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
2260 Baseline Road, Suite 212, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-0078 fax: (303) 786-8054 info@swenergy.org