Chason Affinity Companies - Kaleida Health

Kaleida Health/Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital Reuse
Mechanical + Electrical
Watts Architecture + Engineering
The overall campus loads will be reduced due to the new usage and overall footprint. The total
amount of energy use reduction cannot be reliably generated until the design is presented in
greater detail. One area available for reduced overall annual consumption is the standby loss
savings possible since the facility is no longer a hospital. Previous operation kept a boiler (and a
chiller in warm weather) idling in a standby mode to accommodate the patients. We would not be
required to provide this extensive a “warm backup” operation. Animal waste could not be utilized
directly for fuel and would require “conditioning” prior to use (compost to methane and subsequent
capture perhaps). We might be able to provide “free” compost for the immediate neighborhood.
The majority of the immediate Powerhouse savings result from retro-commissioning, maintenance
and load reduction while utilizing existing equipment. Any new or replacement equipment due to
HVAC operational failures encountered would utilize higher efficiency components
HVAC Assessment
The following information is provided based on observations of the current central equipment
at the former Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital. The building is currently served by a central
powerhouse capable of producing steam at 100psi for distribution through underground tunnels
between buildings and subsequent distribution throughout to air handlers and heaters. The powerhouse
also provides chilled water from the same central location to feed the air handlers and
condition the building.
All central equipment is approaching and/or exceeding the accepted lifespan. However, two
of the boilers have been recently partially or completely retubed substantially extending the expected
life. The operation of the central chillers also reportedly exhibits high reliability without high
maintenance requirements. The central plant operation has been maintained at a high level with
substantial redundancy due to the healthcare application and the effects are exhibited in the
condition of the equipment. The overall efficiency of the units is not at the current specified levels
of new equipment but these lower efficiencies outweigh the cost penalty of full replacements.
The refrigerant utilized in the chillers is R11 which is significantly toxic to the ozone layer. Production
of R11 has been discontinued and replacement refrigerant is reclaimed from decommissioned
equipment. Conversion of existing equipment from R11 to a more environmentally friendly refrigerant
is costly and not recommended for equipment of this era. The existing units are capable of
providing significantly more cooling capacity than is anticipated for the projected needs of the
revised occupancy, therefore, no system equipment changes are currently recommended. The
units should be utilized until they experience repair costs and cycles which approach or exceed
new equipment costs.
Emergency power is provided by three diesel powered generators which were each capable
of supplying the entire Hospital electrical load. The units are exercised routinely and exhibit no
significant wear. Two of the units could be sold provided a buyer is identified. The airhandlers
for the building are distributed primarily in two interstitial mechanical equipment floors within the
structure. These units are also aging and some replacement units were observed. The revised occupancy
of the structure will require significant rebalancing of the systems and an assessment of
the appropriate ventilation levels. An allowance for additional outdoor air supply quantities and
sources is anticipated. There is no current utilization of energy recovery for the airhandling units
and it is unlikely to be reasonably incorporated on a large scale due to the equipment layout.
Veterinary School + Hospital
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