Project description
Cator, Ruma & Associates is supporting St. Joseph Hospital through a comprehensive retro-commissioning and energy management effort aimed at reducing site energy use and meeting phased Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets required by Denver’s Energize Denver ordinance. The work is being performed within an active hospital campus where continuous operations, patient safety, and system reliability are non-negotiable.
CRA’s scope includes technical oversight and coordination of an interdisciplinary energy team consisting of hospital facilities staff, building automation specialists, test-and-balance professionals, and utility program partners. Services include benchmarking and validation of historical energy use, evaluation of existing HVAC, electrical, and domestic hot water systems, and review of building automation system performance, controls sequencing, and trending data. CRA is also assisting with participation in Xcel Energy’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program, which serves as a primary compliance pathway under Energize Denver.
As part of the effort, CRA evaluates energy conservation measures for feasibility, cost, operational impact, and implementation efficiency, with a focus on prioritizing low-cost and operational improvements before pursuing capital-intensive solutions. Additional retro-commissioning services were added to perform detailed, system-level investigations of air handling units, chilled water and boiler plants, terminal units, exhaust systems, and controls logic. Findings are documented through recurring site visits, functional testing, data analysis, and progress reporting to support informed decision-making and long-term compliance planning.
Guiding Principles for the Design
- Compliance Without Compromising Care
- Data-Driven Decisions
- Plan for Long-Term Compliance
- Start With Operational Fixes
- Team-Based Energy Management