kW Engineering / Intermountain Health

Project Overview

Intermountain Health, a nonprofit healthcare network based in Salt Lake City has grown substantially after merging with SCL Health in 2023. To address the post-COVID challenges and support this regional expansion, Intermountain Health partnered with kW Engineering to develop a Remote Operations Center (ROC). kW is currently 3 years into this multiple-year effort which covers nearly 10 million square feet across 30 distinct health care facilities in Utah and Idaho. As part of this effort, kW has deployed SkySpark for Intermountain Health, which serves as the backbone for their ROC. The ROC is a central resource that allows a small group of specialists to remotely monitor the entire Intermountain Health portfolio. Additionally, kW Engineering has deployed kW Link analytics and dashboards, which are used daily by facility maintenance staff and the ROC team.

Project Scope

Altogether, the team was able to identify, implement, and verify several features that resulted in impressive savings to date, with many more projects on the horizon. Within phase one of this effort, kW has integrated 18 buildings and counting, 8 of which are on track to undergo the initial Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx) effort throughout 2024. Across these 18 buildings, 4,542 pieces of equipment and 50,000+ SkySpark points were integrated from the respective building automation systems (BAS). The successful SkySpark integration allows for the use of kW Link in calculating the impact of their strategic interventions. In essense, SkySpark allows the ROC to connect to building data, and kW Link helps the team interpret the data through powerful dashboards accessible for every department and level of the organization.

So far, the deployment of kW Link in conjunction with MBCx efforts saved a total of 1.6 million kilowatt hours for Intermountain Health and 23 thousand MMBTU of avoided natural gas use through year 1. This equates to 2,335 tons of CO2 emissions avoided. Electricity and gas usage are on track to be reduced by an average of 9% each, across the nine buildings included in phase 1 of this effort.

Riverton Hospital (520,000 sqft) and Layton Hospital (328,000 sqft) specifically saw impressive success in energy savings. At both facilities, hardware issues were identified that when resolved, allowed the central chilled water plants to operate more efficiently and reliably without the constant alarms and chillers tripping offline due to poor control. Additionally, kW Engineering worked with the team to reprogram the building pressure control sequences of the building’s air handling units to resolve building pressure issues that have affected the hospital since it was built. Commissioning efforts for Riverton Hospital have resulted in energy savings totaling over 14,000,000 kBTU and 850,000 kWh. Similarly, kW’s commissioning services at Layton Hospital have led to a total energy savings of over 13,000,000 kBTU and 1,250,000 kWh. We anticipate energy savings will continue to significantly increase because of our ongoing commissioning efforts for both hospitals. In addition to saving energy, this has positively impacted comfort for the buildings which has improved the patient experience.

‍Why It's Important

The ROC and kW Link significantly addressed the common challenges faced by large campuses in many ways, including:

• Early Issue Detection and Resolution: FDD software continuously monitors various building systems and equipment, identifying potential faults or inefficiencies. By analyzing data from sensors and systems, it can detect anomalies or deviations from normal operation. This early detection enables proactive intervention, preventing small issues from escalating into larger, more expensive problems.
• Remote Monitoring and Management: The ROC, combined with FDD, allows for remote monitoring and analysis of building systems. It centralizes data collection from multiple sites, enabling real-time monitoring of critical systems. Remote operators can analyze trends, identify recurring issues, and even conduct initial troubleshooting remotely. This capability reduces the need for on-site personnel and enables swift responses to maintenance needs, especially in geographically dispersed facilities.
• Optimized Performance and Efficiency: MBCx utilizes data collected by FDD and the ROC to perform ongoing commissioning and fine-tuning of building systems. By continuously optimizing system performance based on real-time data, MBCx ensures that equipment operates at peak efficiency levels. This leads to reduced energy consumption, lower operational costs, and minimized downtime.
• Predictive Maintenance and Resource Allocation: FDD’s ability to predict potential equipment failures, combined with remote monitorin,g allows for predictive maintenance planning. The ROC can prioritize maintenance tasks based on criticality and urgency, optimizing resource allocation. This approach minimizes reactive maintenance, maximizes equipment uptime, and extends the lifespan of assets.
• Compliance and Reporting: The integrated system generates detailed reports and analytics on system performance, maintenance activities, and compliance with regulatory standards. This streamlines documentation for regulatory audits and ensures adherence to standards, reducing the risk of penalties due to non-compliance.
• Training and Knowledge Transfer: The centralized nature of the ROC allows for knowledge sharing and training opportunities. Experienced technicians can remotely guide less-experienced staff in troubleshooting and problem-solving, facilitating knowledge transfer and improving overall workforce competency.

The Future

Phase one of this effort laid the groundwork for an innovative and collaborative approach to proactive maintenance that helped to save energy and avoid premature equipment replacement while improving comfort. Phase two of the ROC effort will add into the already impressive results. Looking ahead, the project plans to expand its scope to include more buildings and systems within the Intermountain Health network. Key next steps include:

1. Phase Two Integration: Adding more buildings to the ROC and extending the MBCx efforts to additional facilities. This includes 10 sites in Utah and a number of sites in Colorado and Montana.
2. Advanced Analytics Implementation: Further refining the data analytics capabilities of kW Link to enhance predictive maintenance and performance optimization. kW is exploring how the ROC could leverage generative AI models to detect anomalies and perform AFDD.
3. Scalability: kW Engineering is replicating these models and lessons learned in other healthcare facilities, higher-education campuses, and large building portfolios.
4. Continuous Improvement: Ongoing evaluation and enhancement of the ROC and kW Link functionalities based on real-world performance and feedback. kW has developed an MBCx checklist built into kW Link with standardizes the process which increases consistency and quality.
5. Sustainability & Environmental Health Goals:  Intermountain Health’s mission—"Helping people live the healthiest lives possible"—extends beyond the work performed within their facilities. To fully achieve this mission, Intermountain Health is committed to creating an environment that fosters healing and healthy living. The ROC aligns with Intermountain Health's sustainability initiatives by ensuring their operations are as efficient as they can be with the least amount of negative impact on the environment.

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The continued success of this deployment will not only bring operational and cost efficiencies but also contribute to a more sustainable, comfortable, and healthy environment for patients and staff across the Intermountain Health network.

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