Long-Term Care Healthcare Facilities

Promotion of Energy-Efficiency Upgrades and Retrocommissioning in Long-Term Care Facilities in California

IMT was contracted by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, under the Third Party Proposal Program, to demonstrate and promote the implementation of energy efficiency upgrades and retrocommissioning in long-term care facilities in California.

There are over 1400 long-term care facilities in California, encompassing a variety of service types and modes of ownership. Given their constant, equipment-intensive operations, IMT hypothesizes that long-term care facilities could achieve considerable energy savings through retrofits and optimization of building operations ("retrocommissioning").  Furthermore, these facilities have much to gain in terms of the non-energy benefits of energy-related upgrades, enhanced thermal comfort, improved indoor air quality, and a more pleasant indoor visual environment.

Still, long-term care facilities face major institutional, informational, and transactional barriers to energy-efficient investments and practices. These barriers include lack of information and training, intervening priorities and limited staff time, and split incentives between lessees and landlords. IMT, in collaboration with Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI) and other technical consultants, is addressed these barriers through an integrated program of activity.

In August 2001, IMT had completed a market assessment of long-term care facilities in California, two retrocommissioning demonstration projects, and developed a guide on energy-efficiency opportunities for facility administrators and operators.  This work also included the presentation of three seminars that provided continuing-education credit for facility administrators.  These classes were held in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Stockton.  Guest speakers provided detailed information on commissioning, lighting, and California State financial incentive programs.

The demonstration of retrocommissioning in two facilities proved successful both in reducing energy consumption and improving indoor air quality.  See the final project reports for details.