In a move to improve the indoor environment for patients, visitors, and staff, along with its sustainability and cost-effectiveness, the University’s Medical Center has taken on a retro-commissioning (RCx) project that will cover nearly 1.7 million square feet. This project aims to identify and rectify existing deficiencies and ultimately improve delivered conditions, while reducing the Medical Center’s energy consumption and operational costs. Currently, seven buildings at the University’s Medical Center are being evaluated to identify where their systems fall short, and how to best address those issues. Kornberg Medical Research Building, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Golisano Children’s Hospital, and the Wilmot Cancer Center, are all relatively newer buildings, where the hope is to achieve improvements through control changes and minor improvements, with little or no cost impact. The S&GG-Wing, Access Center, and the Ambulatory Care Facility are older spaces where more significant controls upgrades are planned.
What is Retro-Commissioning?
Retro-Commissioning is a process of evaluating and improving how building equipment and systems function together. The University is working with a consultant to evaluate current facility needs and function, and to create a deficiency list detailing recommended actions prioritized based on estimated impacts and costs. By addressing issues identified during the RCx, the University of Rochester Medical Center will be able to improve conditions for patients and staff, while maximizing the facilities’ energy efficiency. This effort will target improvements to the existing systems rather than larger construction projects or equipment changes. RCx is not solely focused on saving energy and reducing cost, but also aims to improve the health, comfort, and the longevity of these facilities, improving the temperature regulation and indoor air quality within the buildings. The ultimate goal of the project is to ensure that these facilities are working as intended and can fulfill their purpose in the best way possible.
Why now?
Through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the University of Rochester’s Medical Center qualified to receive 100% funding on this project. RCx is especially cost-effective in healthcare facilities and laboratories due to their high energy usage, making the Medical Center a great place to start retro-commissioning efforts. All consultant work for the project is being funded by NYSERDA, up to $1 million. The University is working with consultant Grumman|Butkus Associates (GBA), based out of Evanston, Illinois. GBA has over half a century of experience and is well versed in healthcare and laboratory infrastructure.
How will this impact the University?
Not only will NYSERDA cover the costs of the consultant work from GBA at the Medical Center, but the findings from the RCx project will be able to guide improvements for the greater University community in the future. The NYSERDA funding offers a great opportunity for the University to experience and learn about the RCx process, essentially acting as a free pilot project. The University will look at the savings found at the Medical Center, gain experience from the process, and consider how to apply a similar process to future projects and opportunities moving forward.
Written by Ravi Hughes ‘25