CASE STUDY – SURGICAL CENTER ENERGY OPTIMISATION

Established in 1988, this day surgery center operates a state-of-the-art medical facility featuring four operating rooms, one procedure room, and one Endoscopy suite. With a 90-physician team delivering specialised surgical care across multiple disciplines, energy optimisation is a critical priority to maintain a stable, compliant environment for surgeries and procedures.

CHALLENGE: MAINTAINING PRECISE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR SURGICAL OPERATIONS

Healthcare environments demand tightly controlled conditions to ensure optimal patient care and safe surgical procedures. However, the facility’s building automation system (BAS) struggled to maintain these precise environmental conditions, leading to a range of challenges:

• Excessive energy consumption due to simultaneous heating and cooling
• Temperature and humidity control issues that compromised critical surgical environments
• Operational inefficiencies affecting patient care schedules and energy management practices

The facility needed a robust solution that would not only optimise energy use but also maintain compliance with healthcare ventilation standards, such as ASHRAE.

SOLUTION: ASSET ASSESS ANALYTICS FAULT DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS (FDD)

To address these challenges, Asset Assess deployed its advanced Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) platform. The solution was tailored to meet the specific operational requirements of the surgical center while ensuring compliance with strict healthcare ventilation standards.

Key Features Utilised:

• Automated fault detection: Identified energy waste caused by simultaneous heating and cooling
• Advanced analytics dashboard: Provided real-time system performance visualisation
• Custom sequence optimisation tools: Enabled energy-efficient operations during unoccupied hours
• Automated measurement and verification: Ensured accurate assessment of energy savings

TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION

The integration process focused on maximising the capabilities of the center’s Niagara-based building automation system (BAS). Key steps included:

• Monitoring HVAC sequence performance: Ensured efficient and effective system operations
• Nighttime setback optimisation: Identified opportunities to reduce energy use during non-operational hours
• Elimination of unnecessary electric reheat: Prevented energy wastage during unoccupied periods
• Automated measurement and verification: Provided data-driven insights to validate energy savings

The seamless implementation of the Asset Assess platform allowed for uninterrupted surgical operations and minimal disruption to the facility’s day-to-day functions.

RESULTS: ENHANCED EFFICIENCY AND COMPLIANCE

The deployment of the Asset Assess FDD platform delivered transformative results for the surgical center:

• 46% reduction in electric reheat energy consumption: Achieved significant energy savings
• Improved temperature and humidity control: Ensured stable environmental conditions critical for surgical operations
• Enhanced operational efficiency: Automated system monitoring reduced the need for manual interventions
• Maintained compliance with healthcare facility standards: Ensured a safe and compliant environment for patients and staff

These impressive results demonstrate Asset Assess’ ability to deliver substantial energy savings and operational improvements while supporting critical healthcare environments.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND LONG-TERM VALUE

One of the key strengths of the Asset Assess platform is its continuous monitoring capabilities. This ensures that the surgical center can sustain its energy savings and environmental control improvements over the long term. By maintaining a proactive approach to system performance and fault detection, the facility is well-positioned for ongoing operational excellence and environmental stewardship.

The success of this project highlights how healthcare facilities can benefit from advanced building analytics and fault detection technology. It serves as a model for other surgical and medical centers seeking to optimise HVAC operations while maintaining compliance with strict healthcare standards.

DISCOVER THE ASSET ASSESS ADVANTAGE

Are you looking to optimise energy usage and enhance environmental conditions in your healthcare facility? Asset Assess’ FDD solution can help you achieve these goals. Contact us today to schedule a demo and learn how our platform can impact your facility.