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Issue link: https://mcdmag.epubxp.com/i/206370
RETURNING TO EARTH Geothermal system at Methodist Olive Branch Hospital offers case study for HVAC selection By Greg Gore & Clay Seckman T he geothermal heat pump system powering HVAC operations at the new Methodist Olive Branch Hospital in Olive Branch, Miss. is certainly innovative — MOBH is one of a handful of hospitals in the country to incorporate such technology. It is also green — reducing fossil fuel usage and supporting overall sustainability efforts at MOBH, which is tracking LEED Gold and predicting an Energy Star rating of 93. However, these are not the only reasons the project team selected this particular HVAC system. Even the greenest, most cutting-edge HVAC system can be ineffective and detrimental to long-term lifecycle cost if it does not perfectly fit a hospital's particular goals and needs. An Integrated Project Delivery approach played an important role in determining that a geothermal system was the best fit for MOBH's needs and goals. Representatives from Gresham, Smith and Partners, Smith Seckman Reid and Turner Construction, along with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, conducted an indepth lifecycle cost analysis of several HVAC systems. HVAC SELECTION CRITERIA When Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare embarked on the development of a new hospital serving the growing Northern Mississippi region, it identified Methodist Olive Branch Hospital in Olive Branch, Miss., opened to patients on Aug. 26. 54 Medical Construction & Design | November/December 2013 Representatives from Turner Construction install the GeoModule, which adaptively manages and monitors bore field temperatures. several guiding principles that every project design decision needed to support. These included a focus on the healing environment, patient safety, exceptional care delivery, efficient facility operation, flexibility for future growth and overall patient satisfaction. The HVAC system, with its widespread impact on the patient environment and operational costs, was key to realizing these goals. The team focused on several criteria to select the highest-performing system with the lowest lifecycle cost, including: > First costs and installation costs fi tting strict construction budgets > A system energy profile consistent with Methodist Le Bonheur's commitment to sustainability and utility cost management > Minimal intrusion into patient areas for maintenance > Noise levels, performance standards and simple control systems supporting overall patient control of the environment > Flexibility to accommodate expansions and renovations without incurring major costs > Ease of operation and maintenance, accounting for equipment access, life expectancy, reliability and alignment with staff expertise www.mcdmag.com