Nexant, which managed a recent retro-commissioning project at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center (PSJMC) in Joliet, recently surprised our team with the “RCx Cup”: an award honoring the impressive energy savings resulting from the analysis done at the 1.2 million-square-foot campus.
G/BA’s Matt Butkus (shown at right in the photo) and Tim Shinnick Jr. (left) led the RCx effort during 2013-14, uncovering HVAC inefficiencies and suggesting eight potential high-value improvements, or retro-commissioning measures (RCMs). The client opted to implement the two measures with the highest immediate value: reducing simultaneous heating and cooling that was occurring in four large air handling units due to steam control valve failure, and addressing supply fan speed control problems in VAV air handling units. Fixing these issues resulted in electrical savings of about 2.167 million kWh and natural gas savings of 445,559 therms, with a very short payback period. The project implementation should save PSJMC more than $330,000 per year, and PSJMC can realize additional savings by implementing of some or all of the six remaining RCMs in the future.
The entire cost of the retro-commissioning analysis was paid for by ComEd through its Smart Ideas for Your Business program. Contact G/BA for details.
