Download document () of 20
Send email
Download
You have exceeded the download limit
Simplify electrification for sustainable buildings
From central utility plants to HVAC systems and vehicle charging – everything is electrifying – with vast implications for healthcare facilities. Around the world, healthcare organizations are steadily replacing carbon-based processes with renewable and electrified alternatives, reducing emissions and better managing power consumption.
One way healthcare organizations are prioritizing electrification is replacing major building systems such as their central utility plant with low carbon alternatives when these are approaching end of life. Also, electrifying fleets and adding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for patients and personnel is another way healthcare organizations are reducing carbon emissions and their bottom line.
It’s also important to consider electrified alternatives when looking at deferred maintenance or facilities condition assessment path. For example, if you have 10 chillers with limited service life remaining, you can make a plan to replace them with more efficient heat recovery models or move to a heat pump to a boiler, or from a natural gas boiler to an electric alternative. Over time, you can really start to make progress on decarbonizing these significant building systems
Eaton recently helped a customer who was planning for the end of life of their substation and prepared to invest an sizeable amount of capital to construct a new substation facility. Instead of approaching the project as a “like for like” replacement, they took a step back and asked themselves how they could use this opportunity to improve their energy strategy.
Now, the healthcare organization has a microgrid with battery storage, solar and fuel cells that supplies 80% of their annual power needs. And with the ability to island from the primary incoming utility feed, the microgrid can support critical loads during grid outages while reducing energy costs by up to 20% and greenhouse gas emissions by an anticipated 25%.
Whether you’re transforming your entire campus’ energy systems or making modifications over time such as replacing end-of-life building systems, Eaton is working together with healthcare facilities to digitalize and electrify for a sustainable and resilient future.
It isn’t only about the upfront project cost or available federal funding, but also about the operating cost improvements when implementing modern equipment and systems. For example, it may be more expensive upfront to migrate to more efficient HVAC systems, but you need to consider that monthly operating costs are going to be reduced as a result. And even though the initial capital expenditure is larger than straight replacement, federal tax incentives and monthly savings can help boost the bottom line.
Before embarking on any major modernization project, it is important to ensure your sustainability, design, construction and accounting teams are aligned to maximize return on investment and best utilize available resources. It is equally critical to engage with equipment suppliers that offer the ability to help you navigate federal funding or tax incentive requirements effectively. Collaborating with suppliers early in the project lifecycle enables you to assess the feasibility of meeting the criteria of the federal funding vehicle. In the case of electrical systems, suppliers can assist in maximizing domestic content, aligning with regulatory mandates and optimizing the opportunity for greater tax returns.
