The Toronto Western Hospital(TWH) has come a long wayfrom its early years in a largetent. Part of the UniversityHealth Network (UHN), thedowntown facility has providedcommunity health care and specialized services for overone hundred years. The site hasbeen substantially redevelopedin recent years with some olderparts torn down and a modernAtrium structure added. Theheating plant was also upgradedin 1999.
University Health Network has been recognized forthe excellence of its broad EnvironmentalManagement System based on the ISO 14001model. Keeping all of its component facilities asenergy efficient as possible is an on-going goal.
When the boiler room work was done in 1999,three massive 45,000 lb/hr boilers were replacedwith three 500 HP and two 250 HP Vapor PowerCoil-tube boilers. This configuration provided more efficient handling of the summer boiler load. But
neither draft controls nor economizers wereinstalled on the new boilers due to funding constraints. The facility’s 300-foot chimneyreduced the operating efficiency of the boilers. But demolishing it was too costly to consider.
In 2003, Enbridge Gas Distribution EnergyManagement Consultants did a walk-through toreview the energy efficiency of the facility. Theyfound the new boilers were not properly adjustedto deliver optimal performance and that downdrafts were further disrupting boiler operation.
They also flagged thesignificant opportunityto recover heat fromthe flue gases. Theyrecommended boilertune-ups and the addition of economizersfor each boiler. At thesame time UHN andTWH staff wanted tomake sure that theHVAC system kept pacewith the site’s redevel-opment.
Solution
In the summer of 2004, EnvironmentalCoordinator, Ed Rubinstein, conducted a review ofways to further enhance UHN’s environmental performance. That’s when the Enbridge report onthe TWH boiler operations came to his attention.He discussed the recommendations with the TWHEnergy Committee including John Latam, TWH’sManager of Facilities and Support Services, andIsaac Prashad, TWH’s Plant Operations Supervisor.They quickly agreed that the project had everythingneeded to recommend it – high savings for a modest investment with rapid payback.
Energy Teamwork Saves Money for Patient Care
TORONTO WESTERN HOSPITAL
Case
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Toronto Western Hosp-Case study 11/27/06 10:15 AM Page 1
A request for quote was put out for economizers forall five boilers. Steam-Fab Ltd., the local VaporPower representative, was the successful bidder. In2005, they installed five, stack economizers with two-pass air and two-pass water features – a designthat ensures the most heat recovery. The retrofitwas started in April of 2005 and completed in Juneof that year. The total cost of the installation wasaround $140,000. Enbridge calculated the annualsavings and provided an incentive of $30,000.
TWH also acted on the recommendation to improveheating efficiencies through boiler re-commissioning.Working with Enbridge, they brought in Vapor Powerto redo the combustion analysis. They took one boiler out of operation and conducted a completetune-up. TWH also conducts in-house steam audits.
Challenges/Lessons Learned
◗ Boiler economizers are inexpensive and substantially reduce fuel needed to maintain adequate heating levels.
◗ Relatively new boilers offer no guarantee of bestperformance. Regular testing and tune-ups are a low-cost way to keep a health care facility’s comfort up and heating costs down.
◗ Low cost measures can make an important contri-bution to operational efficiencies. As John Latamputs it, “when you add a lot of small projects, youget big savings.”
◗ Successful projects motivate staff and help themmake the shift to a “conservation culture.”
◗ A dedicated Energy Team with representation from different areas of the health care facility isthe key to identifying and implementing energyefficiency improvements.
◗ The TWH Energy Team is also involved with alldesign/build projects at the hospital to ensurethat energy efficiency is considered.
◗ Many different energy efficiency incentives areavailable for retrofit projects. Energy teamsshould investigate these funding opportunitiesand use the information to build a solid businesscase.
Benefits
Added together, the energy efficiency improvements at TWH save the hospital close to$350,000 annually. Overall benefits include:
◗ Energy savings
◗ Cost savings
◗ Fast payback
◗ Reinvestment in other energy saving projects
◗ Resources freed up for patient care
In addition, TWH is finding that success breeds success. Projects like this and others have prompt-ed a culture shift, motivating more people through-out the hospital to become involved in energy savingas an ongoing activity.
Update
Toronto WesternHospital’s Energy Teamcontinues to meet regularly to identify andimplement energy saving measures. Sincethe project they havedone a second steamtrap audit and VaporPower is brought in everyfour months to tune-up
combustion controls. The Team also meets regularlywith Enbridge Gas Distribution to discuss other naturalgas savings opportunities, with Toronto Hydro to identify electricity savings and with the City ofToronto to find water savings. Corporately, UniversityHealth Network has an Environmental Committeelooking at opportunities for improving environmentalperformance across its three sites in order to benefitfrom economies of scale and shared information.
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For more information, contact us at:
1-866-844-9994 • Fax: 416-495-8350 • [email protected] • www.enbridge.com/gas
Saving dollars for patient care through heatrecovery and re-commissioning.
Think about the total savings – close to$350,000 at current gas rates. These arecontinuous savings. Think of the impact onpatient care. What does $350,000 buy? It really has an impact, it’s a lot of money.
John LatamManager of Facilities and Support ServicesToronto Western Hospital
Toronto Western Hosp-Case study 11/27/06 10:15 AM Page 2
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