Carrot River Health Centre

Lighting
The following table provides descriptions of the existing and proposed lighting conditions for different areas of the facility.

Controls Upgrade

Overview
The boilers at the Carrot River facility are controlled using Honeywell Indoor/Outdoor controllers while the air handling systems are controlled by individual thermostats located in the various spaces. None of the control systems are interconnected nor is there any link to the central operations hub at Tisdale. Significant improvements to the operation of the facility could be implemented with a new Building Automation System (BAS) that would coordinate and control the operation of the building H.V.A.C systems and also allow operators remote access from the control hub in Tisdale thus ensuring that setpoints and schedules are being maintained.

Scope
The needs of the new BAS system will be assessed and an appropriate series of controllers and points will be installed to govern the operation of MUA 1, MUA 2, the Laundry AC unit and Furnace F1 along with the necessary exhaust fan interlocks. The system will be controlled by an operator interface which is networked to the control hub in Tisdale.

Boiler Pump Control
Overview
Currently there are 4 1/3 hp pumps serving each of the four atmospheric boilers at the Carrot River Health Centre which operate continuously for the entire heating season including shoulder months (approximately 40 weeks per year) regardless of whether their respective boilers are firing. By controlling the operation of the pumps during the shoulder seasons both natural gas and electricity savings can be achieved.

Scope
Necessary controls and points will be installed which will allow the new BAS to regulate pump operation during the shoulder seasons.

MUA 1 – Zone Isolation
Overview
The Carrot River Health Centre has a main Makeup Air (MUA) unit designated MUA 1 which supplies the majority of the facility excluding the Clinic, Kitchen and Laundry areas. The main MUA is a 100% Outside Air (O/A) system that currently operates on a 24/7 basis. While supply air must be maintained to areas with 24/7 occupancy, such as the wards and nursing station, there are other areas such as the Dining Area and Lab that are supplied with a significant amount of supply air when they are un-occupied during the night. By installing zone isolation dampers, significant savings can be realized by restricting the supply air to areas that do require ventilation for significant periods of time.

Scope
A pair of zone isolation dampers will be installed in the ducts supplying the Lab and Dining Room respectively. Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) will also be installed on the MUA 1 supply fan as well as general exhaust fan EF-5 in order to maintain air balance in the facility. Both the dampers and the VSDs will be connected to the new BAS. Both dampers will then be programmed to open at 6:00am and close at 6:00pm with a push-button override also being installed so that supply air can be provided outside the scheduled operating hours if necessary.

MUA 2 – Scheduling
Overview
The Carrot River Health Centre has a secondary Makeup Air unit designated MUA 2 that serves the Kitchen and Laundry areas and currently operates on a 24/7 basis. The Kitchen & Laundry spaces are largely unoccupied after 6:00.pm and as such significant savings can be realized by scheduling these units off during the unoccupied period.

Scope
MUA 2 will be connected to the new BAS and scheduled according to the occupancy of the space it is ventilating. The operation of MUA 2 will also be interlocked with the operation of exhaust fans EF-1 (Kitchen Exhaust), EF-2 (Convection Oven Exhaust) and EF-4 (Laundry Exhaust) in order to maintain air balance in the space. As well, the laundry D/X cooling unit SF-AC-1 will also be interlocked with the operation of MUA 2. Push-button overrides will also be installed to facilitate after hours work.

Furnace F1 – Scheduling
Overview
The Carrot River Health Centre has a furnace designated as F1 which serves south-east portion of the clinic are. F1 is a 100% recirculation unit (i.e. it draws no outside air) and currently operates on a 24/7 basis. The areas served by F1 are largely unoccupied after 5:00.pm and on weekends and as such significant savings can be realized by scheduling these units off during the unoccupied period.

Scope
F1 will be connected to the new BAS and scheduled according to the occupancy of the space it is supplying. The operation of F1 will also be interlocked with the operation of exhaust fan EF-5 (General Exhaust) in order to maintain air balance in the space. Push-button overrides will also be installed to facilitate after hours work.

Pipe Insulation
Overview
There are currently several hundred feet of un-insulated hot water piping running in the crawlspace of the facility. These pipes radiate heat into the crawlspace which causes the area to overheat. As a result, the ventilation fans to run more than necessary. The radiant heat also moves though the floor of the facility causing the cooling systems to operate more than necessary. Insulating these pipes will save energy through increased system efficiency and reduces operation of peripheral systems.

Scope
Insulation will be applied to approximately 16 feet of 1” diameter DHW piping, approximately 200 feet of ¾” diameter DHW piping and approximately 430 feet of 1 ½” boiler HW piping in the crawlspace.
 

Boiler Flue Dampers
Overview
In the case of combustion appliances vented to the atmosphere, average standby time ranges from 85 to 90 percent if they are sized properly for their design loads. During this time, warm room air is drawn through the stack via the draft hood or dilution air inlet at a rate proportional to the stack height, diameter and outdoor temperature. More air is drawn through the vent immediately after the appliance shuts off and the flue is still hot. When closed, a vent damper prevents residual heat from being drawn up the warm vent.

Scope
Electromechanical vent dampers will be installed on four atmospheric boiler stacks. The electromechanical vent damper is coupled with the gas valve. For example, the vent damper wil start to open on a call for heat. After a short delay of 15 to 30 seconds to ensure that the damper is open, the gas valve and ignition are activated. Conversely, the damper will close when the heat demand is met and the gas valve is closed.

Perimeter Radiator Reflectors
Overview
Wall areas, behind the perimeter steam radiators, are significantly hotter than other wall areaswithin the building. These hot areas transmit significantamounts of heat to the outside thus reducing the effectiveness of perimeter radiation.

Scope
Reflectors designed specifically for application on walls behind heating radiators will be installed to reflect energy back into the building space. In addition, the insulating pockets of air behind the heat reflectors further reduce heat losses normally due to convective and conductive processes. These reflectors will greatly improve the effectiveness of the existing radiators, potentially allowing the heating loop temperature to be reduced and thus increasing the overall heating system efficiency and occupant comfort.

Vending Machine Control
Overview
Cold beverages are available for purchase at this site from a single refrigerated beverage dispensing machine. It has self contained refrigeration and illumination that are currently running constantly, regardless of whether people are in the area to purchase beverages.

Scope
A Vending Miser control will be implemented on refrigerated vending machines within the facility. It will be wall mounted and plugged into the receptacle providing power to the existing vending machine, and the vending machine will then be plugged into the Vending Miser receptacle. It can be relocated with the vending machine. A passive infra-red sensor detects occupants and allows the machine to power down when the surrounding area is vacant. The device also monitors room temperature and vending machine compressor operation to automatically re-power the cooling system at one to three hour intervals to ensure that drinks remain cool. Savings result because the machine lighting is only on when the area is occupied, and the compressor does not short cycle, which increases the efficiency and life span of the compressor.

Parking Plug Control
Overview
Approximately 14 existing duplex parking plug receptacles are not presently controlled. By implementing controls on these the power delivered to the plugs will be cycled based on outside temperature achieving both electricity consumption and demand savings while maintaining necessary power to the plugs so that users are able to start their vehicles. Time and temperature control will be installed. Plugs will be energized on at temperatures below -30C, alternate in at least 2-banks at 20 minute intervals at temperatures between -15C and -30C, and be off at temperatures above -15C. The lot will function as above to accommodate 24/7 function of the facility. Electrical savings will result from reduced energy consumption and reduced electrical demand.

IPLC controllers will be installed to replace 14 duplex receptacles and programmed to cycle 40% of the time when the temperature is between -5C and -15C, 70% of the time between -15C and -25C and 100% of the time when the temperature is -25C or colder.

Building Envelope Sealing
Overview
An investigation to upgrade the current conditions of the building envelope was conducted by CANAM Building Envelope Specialist. The results of this investigation have uncovered several areas where the building envelope can be upgraded in order to reduce heating costs. Most of  the areas where improvements may be made within the confines of the performance contract involve low cost sealing of identified cracks around doorways.

Scope
The CANAM scope prescribes weather sealing on 26 doors at the facility.

Backflow Prevention (VFA)
Overview
Backflow occurs when the water flows in the opposite direction from its normal flow. The cause of a backflow is a change in pressures. This reversed direction of water flow may allow contaminants to enter the drinking water system through cross-connections. Backflow Prevention is a strategy whereby a valve is placed in the domestic water supply line of a given facility in order to prevent contamination by pollutants due to ‘backflow’ in the system. Examples of testable backflow preventers used for medium to high hazard processes include: reducedpressure principle assemblies, double-check valve assemblies and pressure vacuum breaker assemblies.

Scope
Backflow Prevention double-check valve assemblies will be installed in both the domestic and fire pump water supply pipes in order to comply with the 1995 National Building Code part 7.6.2.3 and CSA.Z317.1 Canadian Standards Association Special Requirements for Plumbing Installations in Health Care Facilities, Section 6.3.3.5.