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ENERGY MANAGEMENT


As Ecosystem’s project designer Guillaume


Lavallée notes, the project was designed to ensure there was no damage to the natural inhabitants of the area, both during construction and operations, explaining: “We wanted to make sure that our energy solution didn’t have a negative impact on HHHS’s surroundings. That’s why we took several precautions during construction, including the installation of geotextile cloth to protect the lake from the work area. We also made sure that work took place outside of fish spawning season and that minimal alterations were made to the shoreline when the pipes were laid in the lake.” At both Minden and Haliburton hospitals,


the geothermal measures were optimised by the conversion of the cooling network to a dual temperature network for the heating and cooling of air. This allowed the heat pump to operate at temperatures as low as 95˚F (35˚C), thereby reducing electricity consumption and increasing efficiency. A second heat pump was installed in cascade to increase the temperature up to 160˚F (71.1˚C) for the main heating network.


‘The geothermal measures were optimised by the conversion of the cooling network to a dual temperature network for the heating and cooling of air. This allowed the heat pump to operate at temperatures as low as 95˚F, thereby reducing electricity consumption and increasing efficiency.’


Solar panels The Ontario Power Authority’s microFIT incentive program made solar energy a financially attractive option for the project by providing 0.802$/kWh for power generated by the photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Both hospitals have inclined roofs facing southwest; a set-up providing for easier installation, lower costs, and a shorter payback period. In addition to being a renewable source of energy, the solar panels are also a visible reminder to Haliburton’s community of the HHHS commitment to sustainability.


Other measures The HHHS project also included several energy conservation measures (ECMs) designed to reduce consumption, including the installation of a building automation system and the addition of variable frequency drives on chilled water pumps and air handling units. These measures helped to optimise hospital building operations, while also increasing comfort for patients and staff.


The Ontario Power Authority’s microFIT incentive program made solar energy a financially attractive option for the project


Conclusion Today HHHS benefits from $190,000 per year in guaranteed energy savings and an


250 cars from the roads. Thanks to the alternative energy measures,


additional $12,000 in avoided maintenance costs. Energy consumption has been reduced by 42% and greenhouse gas emissions by 800 tons of CO2


, the equivalent of removing


the hospitals are now less dependent on oil and therefore are less sensitive to oil price variations. In addition, HHHS was able to renew some critical assets, including its entire cooling network and new heat pumps to replace aging boilers and chillers while also providing system redundancy. The benefits for the community – which


include jobs for local contractors and business for local hotels and restaurants – are what makes HHHS’s management especially pleased. “The project has been met with approval from everyone – from politicians to patients – who visit the hospital,” said Rosebush, “They think this is a great thing to be doing because we are reducing pollution while meeting our energy requirements.” In conclusion, Peter Fearrey, HHHS’s


environmental supervisor, said: “Everyone had some ownership, everyone is on board. We are a small community and as the project starts to show the savings, it will become even more of a win-win situation.”





Providing insights into the vast field of healthcare engineering and facility management


32 IFHE DIGEST 2013


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