NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) in the US and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) have completed an $8.2m energy efficiency upgrade at Queens Hospital to enhance sustainable infrastructure and reduce environmental impact.
The project is expected to result in a healthier environment for both patients and staff by improving heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
NYC Health + Hospitals chief decarbonisation officer Omer Cabuk said: “This vital project underscores the public hospital system’s ongoing commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable environment for our patients, staff, and communities that we serve while advancing our efforts to decarbonise operations and further reinforcing our dedication to a cleaner environment and more resilient buildings.
“We thank our partners at DCAS for their invaluable support and investment in our infrastructure and decarbonisation initiatives, which are essential to reducing emissions and building a healthier, more sustainable city.”
The energy project at the hospital is anticipated to save 1.4MWh of electricity and 218,000 therms of natural gas a year.
This translates to a reduction of approximately 1,500tpa of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions.
The financial benefits are also notable, with the upgrades projected to generate over $400,000 in energy savings annually.
NYC chief decarbonisation officer Sana Barakat said: “DCAS’ Division of Energy Management is laser-focused on reducing emissions from our highest-emitting buildings to ensure we meet the city government’s 50% emissions reduction target by 2030.
“Large, comprehensive projects like this one at H+H are essential to get us to our targets faster, and we intend to complete and identify more in the coming years. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at H+H and other agencies to complete high-impact projects that make our communities and environment healthier.”
Key improvements carried out at the hospital encompass the installation of a chiller plant optimisation system, exterior lighting systems, boiler burner control upgrades, and Wi-Fi-enabled window AC systems.
A heat pump domestic water heater has also been installed to electrify thermal loads.
The initiative was carried out in partnership with DCAS’ Energy Management (DEM) division, which provided technical assistance and funding of $6m.
The enhancement at Queens Hospital is a component of DCAS’ Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) programme, designed to expedite energy conservation, reduce emissions, and facilitate the execution of distributed generation capital projects, in collaboration with municipal agencies.
