How St. Luke’s Hospital Downsized On Energy Costs & Upsized On Patient Healing & Safety
St. Lukes Hospital, Twin Falls, ID, USA: A Controls System Case Study
Essentially the sole healthcare facility in the area, St. Luke’s found its existing hospital unable to meet the growing needs of the community it served. Nearly $200 million was invested for a new facility — a high-performance building that would “promote maximum patient comfort and quality patient care.”
The Situation
This was an opportunity for St. Luke’s to start fresh and create a safer healing environment and a high-performance building with a layout designed for optimal working conditions and effectiveness. To achieve these goals, flexibility was a key factor in design considerations. The design team wanted the right technology in place to create a versatile building that could adapt to changes and grow with them; while maintaining patient safety, pandemic readiness, and energy efficiency.
The Solution
Engineering, Inc. was selected as the mechanical engineer for the project. The latest healthcare indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation standards warranted a new approach to controllability, accountability, and reliability. Engineering, Inc. chose venturi valves and control systems as the best products to meet these new demands.
The Result
VAV systems allowed energy-saving solutions for complicated problems such as lowering airflow while achieving min/max heating and cooling loads for patient towers facing both East and West. In total, 1,289 venturi valves were used on the project. To achieve their flexibility goal, VAV systems were also designed into spaces throughout the facility; including lobbies, kitchens, CTs, MRIs, ORs, as well as the MSTI Cancer Institute.
In total, 1,289 venturi valves were used on the project.
The VAV systems not only provided a safe environment and reliable energy savings but also allowed the engineering team to downsize the required HVAC equipment — saving on the project’s initial cost and reducing the start-up cost/time necessary to balance the building.
Belnor Engineering, home of the Belnor IAQ Warden™, is the official multiple consecutive award-winning distributor of innovative architectural products around the globe. At the forefront of sustainability for over three decades, we specialize in laboratory & building automation & controls, IAQ & HVAC systems, renewable energy & architectural solutions, technical services, and green & healthy building consulting — building green cities one green building at a time. For more information, contact us. Don’t forget to read our Sustainability Manifesto: Decade Of 2020 while you’re at it. Cheers!
