Manhattan VA Medical Center

Project Overview

Manhattan, NY –

SES was retained by RWE Clean Energy to serve as the Commissioning Authority (CxA) for a large-scale Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) at the Manhattan VA Medical Center in New York City. The project spanned two major hospital buildings and encompassed ten Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) targeting HVAC controls, mechanical equipment, lighting, steam distribution, and building optimization.

Eighteen (18) aging air handling units (AHUs) and their related pneumatic control systems, serving Outpatient and Clinical areas, were completely replaced with modern custom air handling systems which were integrated into a new Building Automation System (BAS). New variable frequency drives and electronic sensors were installed on four different steam-to-hot water systems throughout. These were also integrated to the new BAS, giving facility staff real-time visibility and automated control over equipment that had previously operated in a standalone, uncontrolled fashion. Three large central air handlers supplying 100% outside air to the main hospital tower were replaced with high-efficiency direct drive fan arrays, all new devices and sensors, and a run-around energy recovery loop was added to capture heat from exhaust air. Over 1,200 failed steam traps and 600 radiator valves were replaced throughout the facility, improving system control, patient comfort, and recovering significant energy from the steam distribution system. Similarly, 350 VAV boxes and their related reheat control valves and thermostats were replaced in various areas of the building. Lighting throughout the facility was upgraded to LED with occupancy controls. A retro-commissioning effort optimized existing air handler controls in both buildings, implementing supply air temperature resets, unoccupied setbacks, and outside air damper control to reduce energy waste.

Throughout each ECM, SES developed and coordinated pre-functional checks, executed functional performance testing, and tracked all deficiencies through its commissioning portal to ensure each measure was properly installed, correctly integrated, and operationally ready for VA staff at handover.