Budget-Friendly Decarbonization: The Role of HVAC Overrides in Sustainable Practices

Tip #33

Christy Fetsch, Healthcare Sales Leader, Trane Commercial

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Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in hospital decarbonization efforts. Hospitals are energy-intensive due to their need for continuous operation, specialized equipment, and stringent environmental controls. Many believe that decarbonization is a problem that can only be solved using renewables or onsite generation. While those are part of the answer, you can make help significant decarbonization progress using your existing infrastructure and investments. Enhancing energy efficiency may help reduce a hospital's carbon footprint.

Releasing HVAC overrides in a building automation system is a useful lever to help find this comfort / cost reduction equilibrium in healthcare buildings. By tailoring the system to your unique building needs you can help to improve your HVAC to drive decarbonization in several ways.

1. Energy efficiency: HVAC overrides often result in unnecessary energy consumption as the system may operate at a higher or lower capacity than needed. By releasing these overrides and allowing the system to operate based on pre-programmed schedules or occupancy sensors, energy usage can be enhanced, helping to reduce overall energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Cost savings: nnecessary HVAC overrides may lead to higher energy bills for building owners and occupants. Overrides often result in HVAC systems running longer than necessary. For example, if an override keeps the system running after normal operating hours, it consumes more energy, leading to higher utility bills. By releasing these overrides and allowing the system to operate efficiently, cost savings may be achieved over time, helping to benefit both the environment and the bottom line.

3. Equipment longevity: Constantly overriding HVAC settings may strain the system, increasing maintenance and repair costs. By releasing overrides and allowing the system to operate as intended, the lifespan of the equipment maybe extended, helping to reduce the need for premature replacements and conserving resources.

4. Comfort and productivity: Releasing HVAC overrides can help maintain a comfortable indoor environment for occupants. In larger buildings or facilities, overrides in one area may affect the overall HVAC system's efficiency. For example, overriding the system in one zone may cause imbalances that make the entire system work harder, increasing energy consumption.

By maintaining the system’s operation at peak performance, occupants are may be more likely to be satisfied with the indoor conditions, helping to lead to a more sustainable and productive work or living environment.

Reliable HVAC systems are essential for the continuous operation of critical spaces. Frequent overrides may cause system malfunctions or failures, leading to downtime and potentially life-threatening situations.

Override Mitigation Strategies:

• Automated Controls: Implement advanced HVAC control systems that reduce the need for manual overrides and offer consistent compliance with regulatory standards.
• Training and Protocols: Train staff on the importance of maintaining HVAC settings and establish clear protocols for when and how overrides can be used.
• Regular Monitoring and Maintenance: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of HVAC systems to verify they are functioning correctly and efficiently.
• Alarm Systems: Use alarm systems to alert staff when environmental conditions deviate from acceptable ranges, allowing for prompt corrective action.
• Documentation: Maintain thorough documentation of any overrides, including the reason for the override and the duration, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Overall, releasing HVAC overrides in a building automation system may help drive decarbonization by helping to improve energy efficiency, reducing costs, extending equipment longevity, and enhancing occupant comfort and productivity. It’s a simple yet important way that you can add more control and consistency to your healthcare facility operations to create a heating and cooling approach that’s tailored to your unique business needs.

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