ARMC receives special energy efficiency certification

While still a work in progress, energy-saving moves made over the last several years has earned Adena Regional Medical Center the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star® certification for superior energy performance.

The Energy Star® program was created in 1992 to help businesses and individuals save energy and fight climate change. Buildings and plants selected are verified to have performed in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide based on weather-normalized source energy performance and many other metrics such as occupancy, hours of operation and others. Selection is based on actual, verified energy performance and objective measures of performance, providing a guarantee of energy savings.

“This certification shows us the work we have done has made a difference and we are part of helping Adena grow and being a responsible community member,” said Boiler Supervisor Jim Jones. “This helps us and our community.”

The origins of the certification can actually be traced back to actions taken well before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“During the five years before COVID hit, we had done enough energy savings project that we absorbed the new Emergency Department opening up without the electric bill going up,” Jones said. “During those five years, we actually lowered our energy footprint with the new ED coming.”

By reducing that footprint, ARMC was able to lower its electric use enough to generate an annual savings equal to about one month of the previous average electric bill, or about $100,000.

Around the same time, permanent adjustments made to gas usage created an additional annual savings of about $50,000.

Another $140,000 over the five-year period was recovered with the help of the Ohio Hospital Association’s Energy and Sustainability Program, which helped file paperwork to recover incentive money through AEP energy reduction programs. That funding was put back into other energy-saving initiatives.

“I view the Energy and Sustainability Program as an opportunity to help ensure that our member hospitals are meeting the needs of the current generation without hindering the needs of future generations,” said Kevin Zacharyasz, director of the program for OHA. “We want to ensure a healthy Ohio for all. This program provides not only environmental health impacts but financial impacts that allow our member hospitals the opportunity to reinvest in patient care services and community health programs. OHA commends the hard work and commitment of the Adena staff and partners for this momentous accomplishment.”

Among those moves taken during the period of 2014 through 2019 included installation of LED lighting in parts of the hospital, installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) on air handler supply and return fans, and installation of VFDs on pumps. The LED lighting has saved money through reduced wattage needed to power those lights, while the VFDs helped save energy by reducing the amount of energy needed to power fans and better controlling air flow than the previous system. Likewise, installing VFDs on pumps and pressure controls helped back down the speed of the pumps to save energy.

With the arrival of the pandemic, some of the work on energy-saving measures slowed. There are plans, however, over the next one to three years to replace air handlers that are original to the hospital to improve their efficiency. Continuing upgrades to LED lighting are also being eyed as the budget allows.

In order to earn Energy Star® certification, information such as utility bill data and building information is entered into EPA’s free online tool for measuring and tracking energy use, water use, waste and greenhouse emissions. The information generates an Energy Star® score of between 1 and 100, with a score of at least 75 needed to become eligible to apply for the certification. A professional engineer or registered architect must also verify the information within the application is accurate.

ARMC’s score was 92, meaning it was determined to be more energy efficient than 92 percent of similar buildings nationwide.

On average, Energy Star® certified buildings and plants use 35 percent less energy, produce about 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions and are less expensive to operate than their peers while still maintaining comfort standards.

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to protecting our environment,” said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the Energy Star® Commercial and Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s Energy Star® certification.”

According to OHA, Ohio has 20 of the 54 Energy Star® certified hospitals in the United States, more than any other state.

ARMC is not the first Health System building to earn the designation. Adena Greenfield Medical Center is listed as being Energy Star® certified from 2015 through 2020.