Johnson Controls develops Healthcare Environment Optimization

Johnson Controls, a building efficiency company among other things, is developing a new hospital efficiency system. The company is utilizing Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana as a beta test site. The installation will include an automatic scheduling system which will maximize the hospitals air exchange rates and energy use. Standard operating rooms use a lot of energy in their heating, ventiltation, and cooling systems (HVAC). But director of healthcare, Richard Smith explains that it isn’t necessary to have these systems running at that high energy 24/7.

The new Healthcare Environment Optimization program will include a surgery mode and a setback mode. When in surgery mode, the HVAC system will run with the minimum number of air changes every hour. In setback mode, it will reduce its energy use by 25 percent.

Along with controlling these two modes, the system will be able to track air exchange rates and temperatures for recordkeeping purposes. There will be a user-interface display, which gives surgical and facility staff control of the room conditions. The controls include a manual override to adjust temperature, and real-time alarms that will allow occupants to immediately address HVAC system problems. In addition, hospitals that implement the Healthcare Environment Optimization System will be earning credits toward LEED and Energy Star certifications.