ENERGY COST SURGERY.

An energy management system and variable speed drives were installed at the Genesee Hospital in Rochester, New York, to improve the efficiency of the HVAC systems serving critical areas. The energy-intensive HVAC systems serving the operating suites were modified to reduce the use of outside air and total air flow, while maintaining safe and legal conditions. During unoccupied periods, the energy management system automatically reduces the air flow to 15 air changes per hour will full return air. When the operating rooms are in use, the HVAC systems use either 25 air changes per hour with 20 percent outside air or 15 air changes per hour with 100 percent outside air, whichever is the most economical.