Lower Operating Costs Equals More Money for Saving Lives
Mission-oriented facilities such as M.D. Anderson Cancer Center are constantly looking for ways to lower operating costs so that more money can be put toward their ultimate goal—eradicating cancer. EEA was hired to perform an energy audit of 4.4 million square feet of research, hospital, and clinic buildings at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center located in Houston, Texas. Detailed site investigations, energy modeling, and energy conservation concept designs provided the Cancer Center with tremendous energy saving opportunities. The project was executed in two phases:
- Phase 1: Produce an energy management master plan for all 4.4 million square feet of the campus.
- Phase 2: Detailed ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit of 2.1 million square feet spread over 8 buildings. EEA also assisted the Center with obtaining almost $1 million in utility rebates from Centerpointe Energy, including $620,000 the first year.
Energy Savings
The energy management master plan phase identified a 32% reduction in energy costs – approximately $1.64 per square foot. The phase 2 ASHRAE Level 2 Energy Audit identified energy conservation measures that would save $6.8 million annually in utility costs with an implementation cost of $16.2 million. This would result in a 2.4 year payback. Additionally, EEA identified retro-commissioning savings opportunities that would save an additional $1.1 million in annual utility costs, with an implementation cost of only $280,000.
Testimonial:
“I have personally observed that this high level of performance is achieved by application of a unique and robust toolbox of energy conservation know-how, which is particularly adaptable to complex HVAC systems. EEA continues to demonstrate a very practical and cost effective approach to the art of energy savings that is lacking in many engineering firms today.”
Jonathan Katz, Director, Utilities Resource Management
