At the University of Kentucky, a commitment to innovation and efficiency is driving cost avoidance and conservation of natural resources in facilities across the campus and the Commonwealth. Three buildings on the UK HealthCare campus in Lexington, profiled below, offer recent highlights of this commitment to combine on-the-ground problem solving, emerging technology and collaboration to reduce energy consumption without compromising the high standards of care, comfort and reliability healthcare environments demand.
“The heart of these efforts is the shared vision between UK Facilities Management leadership, the UK Facilities Management HealthCare maintenance team who keep complex systems running day-to-day and the UK Energy Program team who bring data-driven insights and recommendations from the field,” said Derek Crouse, executive director of Facilities Management HealthCare. “Together, these groups have built an approach to deliver reliable, cost-effective energy management that is rooted in curiosity, problem solving and precision.”
Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility for Women
The Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility for Women (Pavilion WH) recently achieved measurable gains in both patient comfort and energy performance. The Pavilion WH team traced comfort issues back to the building’s mechanical system and uncovered areas where the heating and cooling systems were working against each other.
“Correcting control settings and performing some adjustments and maintenance restored balance between systems,” said Matt Mueller, director of Facilities Management HealthCare.
Through their work, the team tuned the systems to actively adapt to both occupancy and outdoor air conditions. They also prioritized specifics zones so high demand clinical areas stay comfortable, and real-time data and observations are utilized to ensure systems stay aligned with how the building is used.
The results speak for themselves. In the last year, the building’s energy use intensity dropped by 29.6% and, since 2015, improvements made have translated to an avoided energy cost of more than $900,000.
Good Samaritan Hospital
A coordinated and sophisticated effort led Controls Engineering and UK HealthCare Maintenance in Facilities Management and UK’s energy partner helped Good Samaritan Hospital improve patient comfort, use less energy, and avoid significant cost during a time when the hospital experienced tremendous growth including added operating room capacity, two new MRI machines and an expanded central sterile operation.
“The collaboration between our energy partner, Cenergistic, and Controls Engineering, has been a great asset to the University in both cost and energy savings,” said Bobbie Tincher, utilities systems manager. “The thoroughness, comprehensive knowledge and attention to detail of this team is exceptional."
Since 2015, the building has seen a 13.2% decrease in energy use intensity and has avoided more than $1.5 million in energy costs.
University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Pavilion A)
The Chandler Hospital is the more than 1.7 million square foot centerpiece of UK HealthCare’s Lexington operations. It operates 24/7/365 providing the regions only level 1 trauma care and more. Powering a facility of this size and intensity is no small task.
Since the Energy Program began in 2016, Facilities Management executive leadership, UK HealthCare Maintenance and UK’s energy partner, Cenergistic, have focused on evaluating Pavilion A’s daily system performance and identifying opportunities where modest adjustments could yield meaningful results strengthening the reliability and resilience needed to ensure uninterrupted care.
Since the 2015-16 base year, Pavilion A’s energy use has reduced 16.8%, resulting in more than $11.5 million in avoided utility costs.
“Pavilion A is a prime example of what is possible when maintenance expertise, analytical support and leadership vision work together. It means creating long-term value for UK’s campus and a more reliable environment for those who depend on it every day,” said Barry Swanson, interim vice president of Facilities Management.
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare technicians Jesus Leon Negrete (left) and Tom Coward (right) verify proper operation of the VFDs for the surgery unit in UK HealthCare's Good Samaritan Hospital.
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare technicians Craig Hardy (left) and Jesus Leon Negrete (right) install new LED light in a patient room in UK HealthCare's Good Samaritan Hospital.
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare technicians Tom Coward (left) and Jesus Leon Negrete (right) check the display settings on teh boiler for proper operation in UK HealthCare's Good Samaritan Hospital.
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare team members Jacob Roe, Jeremy Hamilton, and Steve Curry conduct steam work in the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital Pavilion A.
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare team members Ronald Ewing (left) and Brandon Pennington (right) check the sanitary pit levels in the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility (Pavilion WH).
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare team member Ronald Ewing verifies the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is within required parameters in the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility (Pavilion WH).
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare team members Paul Brand (ladder) and Ronald Ewing verify the damper orientation on a variable air valve (VAV) in the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility (Pavilion WH).
Facilities Maintenance HealthCare technicians (left to right) Brandon Pennington, Paul Brand, and Ronald Ewing outside the patient entrance to the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer Facility (Pavilion WH).