VA North Texas Health Care System
Dallas VA Medical Center Energy Manager Leads Energy Efforts
February 8, 2010
DALLAS – As energy manager for VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), Rick Hart of DeSoto has led the energy management team at VANTHCS in reducing energy costs, energy intensity, and environmental impact while increasing sustainability and system process security.
Hart’s leadership was recognized recently by the Department of Energy federal energy management program (FEMP) by positioning VANTHCS as a leader in energy management within the federal government. VA announced recently that Dallas was among 15 VA medical centers (VAMC) cited by the Green Building Initiative for their efforts to achieve sustainability. Dallas VAMC received three of possible four green globe awards based on criteria such as building energy efficiency, low greenhouse gas emissions, conservation of resources and protection of water, and other environmental assessments.
The primary mission of the energy management program at VANTHCS is to support a quality health care environment for Veterans while increasing performance of building systems. The energy management team has nurtured several breakthrough energy strategies at Dallas VAMC:
1. First in medical application for using rotary flywheel uninterruptable power systems for cardiac catherization labs, published in FEMP bulletin.
2. Using thermal storage that shifts chiller operation to low energy demand periods avoiding significant charges and utility costs.
3. Applying design specifications that incorporate proven energy intensity strategies into older buildings. The original building on campus was built in 1940.
4. Applying an in-house building automation system programmed for scheduling peak demand management and monitoring.
5. Recognized as a renewable energy leader in application of photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof of the clinical addition.
6. Used alternative fuels (biodiesel) for fleet of buses transporting patient from Bonham VAMC to Dallas for the last eight years.
7. Operated an alternative fleet fueling station presently on campus at Dallas and Bonham VAMCs to support fleet ethanol vehicles to reduce petroleum consumption and lower harmful environmental emissions.
8. Used dual fuel (steam turbine centrifugal chillers) cooling technologies to support the medical center during extended utility power interruptions.
9. Discontinued energy-consuming exit signs and installed non-radioactive photoluminescent exit signs.
10.Recognized as the first VA facility in the nation to meet federal advanced metering mandate.
Joseph M. Dalpiaz, director of VANTHCS - VA’s third largest VA health care system - knows very well the energy resources required to operate the 84-acre Dallas VAMC campus. “Our energy program directly supports patient care through efficient use of technology and innovative environmental approaches,” Dalpiaz said.
