Lower Hospital Energy Costs in Joliet

Joliet's position as Illinois' third-largest city and Will County's healthcare hub—anchored by AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center (474 beds), Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center (273 beds), and Silver Cross Hospital (New Lenox, 289 beds)—creates dynamic energy management challenges serving one of Illinois' fastest-growing regions. Southern ComEd territory rates averaging $0.062-0.070/kWh and typical hospital energy budgets of $2-3.5M annually demand strategic approaches balancing facility expansion with systematic efficiency improvements. Joliet's healthcare sector benefits from coordinated multi-facility health system management delivering 18-25% energy cost reductions through comprehensive programs.

This comprehensive guide addresses Joliet-specific hospital energy optimization, exploring strategies for community hospitals managing rapid patient volume growth, leveraging AMITA Health and other multi-facility system aggregation opportunities, navigating ComEd southern territory incentive programs maximizing rebate capture, and implementing proven efficiency measures adapted to Will County's expanding healthcare infrastructure. We demonstrate how Joliet hospitals achieve substantial savings balancing growth accommodation with aggressive efficiency targeting.

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Sources:

• U.S. Department of Energy - Hospital Energy Alliance
• American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)
• ComEd Business Energy Efficiency Programs

Joliet Healthcare Energy Landscape

Joliet's southern Chicago metro location and Will County's exceptional population growth create distinctive healthcare energy requirements emphasizing scalability and efficiency.

Major Joliet Healthcare Facilities

AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet:

• 474-bed major regional hospital
• 650,000 sq ft main campus + medical office buildings
• Annual consumption: 50-60M kWh, 380,000 therms
• Energy cost: $3.3-3.9M annually
• System: AMITA Health (19 hospitals Illinois-Wisconsin)
• Services: Full-service acute care, trauma, cardiac, oncology
• Recent investments: Emergency department expansion, new medical office tower

Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center:

• 273-bed community hospital
• 420,000 sq ft facility
• Annual consumption: 32-38M kWh, 240,000 therms
• Energy cost: $2.1-2.5M annually
• System: AMITA Health / Ascension Health
• Focus: Community-based care, obstetrics, surgical services

Silver Cross Hospital (New Lenox, adjacent):

• 289-bed regional hospital
• Modern facility (major renovation 2012)
• Annual consumption: 35-42M kWh
• Energy cost: $2.3-2.7M annually
• ENERGY STAR score: 78 (excellent)
• Leadership: Regional efficiency benchmark
• Notable: Comprehensive efficiency program achieving 23% reduction

Will County Healthcare Growth Context:

Population Growth Impact:

• Will County: 690,000+ residents (third most populous county)
• Growth rate: 15-20% per decade (third-fastest in Illinois)
• Healthcare demand: Increasing volumes requiring facility expansion
• Energy challenge: Accommodate growth while improving efficiency

Infrastructure Expansion:

• Major renovations: All three hospitals expanded 2010-2020
• New construction: MOBs, outpatient facilities, specialty centers
• System complexity: Integrating old and new infrastructure
• Opportunity: Leverage expansions for efficiency upgrades

Joliet Energy Profile

Typical 400-Bed Hospital (550,000 sq ft, mixed 1980s-2010s construction):

System	Annual kWh	Annual Therms	Annual Cost	% of Total
HVAC	22M	220k	$1.68M	50%
Lighting	8.5M	0	$553k	17%
Medical equipment	6M	0	$390k	12%
Food service	2.8M	50k	$230k	7%
Laundry	2M	35k	$160k	5%
Other	3.2M	45k	$280k	8%
TOTAL	44.5M	350k	$3.28M	100%

Growth Impact:

• Annual patient volume increase: 4-6% (Will County growth)
• Energy growth without efficiency: 3-5% annually
• Challenge: Efficiency implementation exceeding growth rate
• Target: Absolute reduction despite increasing services

ComEd Southern Territory

Rate Characteristics:

• Energy supply: $0.040-0.048/kWh (competitive market)
• Delivery: $0.022-0.028/kWh
• Demand: $8-12/kW summer, $6-9/kW non-summer
• All-in pricing: $0.062-0.070/kWh typical
• Comparison: Similar to broader Chicago metro

Incentive Program Access:

ComEd Business Custom Incentives:

• HVAC, lighting, controls, comprehensive measures
• Incentive: $0.10-0.15/kWh first-year savings
• Maximum: $500,000 per facility per year
• Joliet hospital typical capture: $200-400k major projects

Strategic Energy Management:

• Advisor support for operational improvements
• Performance-based incentives on verified savings
• Typical hospital payment: $60-120k annually
• Focus: Low-cost/no-cost optimization

Prescriptive Programs:

• LED lighting rebates: $30-50 per fixture
• HVAC equipment: Efficiency-based incentives
• Motors, drives, compressed air: Standard rebates

Community Hospital Efficiency Strategies

Joliet's community hospital environment requires practical approaches balancing limited resources with substantial opportunities.

Comprehensive LED Retrofit Programs

Foundation for Efficiency:

AMITA Saint Joseph Joliet Case Study (2017-2019):

Initial Assessment (Q1 2017):

• Lighting audit: 7,800 fixtures across 650,000 sq ft campus
• Existing: Mix of T12 (30%), T8 (60%), early LED (10%)
• Operating hours: 7,200 hours/year average
• Opportunity: 68% lighting energy reduction potential

Phased Implementation:

Phase 1: High-Priority Clinical Areas (Q2-Q4 2017):

• Patient rooms, ICU, surgical areas, emergency department
• 3,500 fixtures T12/T8 → LED
• Controls: Occupancy sensors (exam rooms), dimming (patient rooms)
• Investment: $645k gross
• ComEd incentive: 3,500 × $44 = $154k
• Net investment: $491k
• Annual savings: 2.8M kWh = $182k
• Payback: 2.7 years

Phase 2: Support and Administrative (Q1-Q3 2018):

• Offices, corridors, dining, waiting areas, storage
• 3,200 fixtures converted
• Advanced controls: Daylight harvesting (windowed areas), scheduling
• Investment: $590k gross
• ComEd incentive: 3,200 × $42 = $134k
• Net investment: $456k
• Annual savings: 2.4M kWh = $156k
• Payback: 2.9 years

Phase 3: Exterior and Parking (Q4 2018-Q2 2019):

• 1,100 exterior fixtures: Metal halide/HPS → LED
• Parking lots, building perimeter, signage
• Controls: Photocells, time clocks, reduced overnight levels
• Investment: $285k gross
• ComEd incentive: $68k
• Net investment: $217k
• Annual savings: 780k kWh + maintenance $28k = $79k
• Payback: 2.7 years

Total LED Program Results:

• 7,800 fixtures converted over 2.5 years
• Total investment: $1.52M gross, $1.164M net after $356k incentives
• Annual savings: 6.0M kWh = $390k electricity
• Maintenance savings: $48k annually (reduced relamping)
• Combined annual benefit: $438k
• Payback: 2.7 years
• Additional benefits: Improved light quality, reduced cooling load

Building Automation System (BAS) Modernization

Transition from Legacy to Modern Control:

Presence Saint Joseph Case (2019-2022):

Legacy System Challenges (pre-2019):

• Pneumatic controls: 55% of 420,000 sq ft facility
• Early DDC systems: 3 different vendors, poor integration
• Limited functionality: Basic on/off control only
• No remote access or trending
• Energy waste: Systems running 24/7 regardless of need

Modernization Program:

Phase 1: Critical Clinical Areas (2019):

• Operating rooms, ICU, emergency department
• Modern DDC: Tridium Niagara platform, 1,200 points
• Advanced sequences: Optimal start/stop, demand-based ventilation
• Investment: $385k
• ComEd incentive: $75k
• Net investment: $310k
• Savings: 2.2M kWh + 18,000 therms = $201k annually
• Payback: 1.5 years

Phase 2: General Hospital Areas (2020-2021):

• Patient rooms, support spaces, administrative areas
• Additional 1,600 DDC points
• Integration: Unified campus-wide platform
• Investment: $495k
• ComEd SEM incentive: $105k
• Net investment: $390k
• Additional savings: 2.8M kWh + 22,000 therms = $258k
• Payback: 1.5 years

Phase 3: Optimization and Training (2022-ongoing):

• Advanced control sequence deployment
• Operator training and procedure development
• Continuous commissioning integration
• Annual cost: $42k (support services)
• Additional savings: 8% incremental = $95k
• Net annual benefit: $53k plus sustained performance

Total BAS Program Results:

• Campus-wide integration: 2,800 points
• Total investment: $880k gross, $700k net after $180k incentives
• Annual savings: 5.0M kWh + 40,000 therms = $554k
• Payback: 1.3 years
• Operational benefits: Remote monitoring, proactive maintenance, improved comfort

HVAC Efficiency in Growing Facilities

Chiller Plant Optimization:

Silver Cross Hospital Example (2018-2019):

Existing System:

• (3) 400-ton constant-speed chillers (1,200 tons capacity)
• No economizer capability
• Constant flow pumping
• Efficiency: 0.68 kW/ton average
• Annual cooling energy: 6.5M kWh = $423k

Comprehensive Upgrade:

1. Waterside Economizer Addition:

• Plate-and-frame heat exchanger: 800-ton capacity
• Piping modifications: Enable chiller bypass during favorable conditions
• Controls integration: Automatic mode selection
• Investment: $320k
• ComEd incentive: $145k
• Net investment: $175k

Free Cooling Benefits:

• Chicago climate: Wet-bulb <55°F enables economizer
• Annual hours: 3,900 hours (60% of cooling season)
• Energy savings: 3.8M kWh = $247k annually
• Payback: 0.7 years

2. Chiller Plant Optimization:

• Variable speed drives on chilled water pumps (existing chillers already VFD)
• Chiller sequencing optimization: Algorithm selecting most efficient lead unit
• Condenser water temperature reset: Optimize based on wet-bulb
• Investment: $165k
• ComEd incentive: $48k
• Net investment: $117k
• Savings: 850k kWh = $55k
• Payback: 2.1 years

Combined Chiller Plant Results:

• Total investment: $485k gross, $292k net after incentives
• Annual savings: 4.65M kWh (72% of baseline cooling energy) = $302k
• Demand reduction: $38k annually
• Total benefit: $340k
• Payback: 0.9 years

Key Success Factor: Economizer economics exceptional in Chicago climate; should be standard for all Joliet hospital chiller replacements/additions.

AMITA Health System Integration

Joliet's AMITA hospitals benefit substantially from coordinated 19-hospital system management.

System-Wide Procurement Aggregation

AMITA Health System Profile:

• 19 hospitals across Illinois-Wisconsin
• Joliet facilities: Saint Joseph Medical Center (474 beds), Presence Saint Joseph (273 beds)
• Combined Joliet consumption: 82-98M kWh annually
• System total: 220M+ kWh

Aggregated Energy Procurement:

Before System Coordination (pre-2017):

• Saint Joseph Joliet: Independent procurement, $0.067/kWh average
• Presence Saint Joseph: Different contract, $0.065/kWh
• No coordination or volume leverage

After AMITA System Aggregation (2017-present):

• System-wide 3-year fixed contract: 220M kWh
• Competitive bid: 11 suppliers participating
• Result: $0.057/kWh all facilities
• Joliet combined savings: ($0.066-$0.057) × 90M = $810k annually

Additional Benefits:

• Budget certainty: Fixed pricing across contract term
• Reduced administrative burden: Single negotiation vs. two facilities
• Supplier commitment: Enhanced account management for large volume

Standardized Equipment and Implementation

System-Wide LED Specifications:

AMITA Program (2016-2020):

• Single LED fixture specification across all 19 hospitals
• Combined procurement: 65,000 fixtures system-wide
• Volume negotiation: $142/fixture vs. $165 individual hospital market pricing
• Joliet facilities savings: 7,800 fixtures × $23 = $179k capital cost reduction

Installation Coordination:

• Single contractor: System-wide implementation
• Lessons learned: Early facilities inform later implementations
• Accelerated timeline: Shared project management
• Quality consistency: Standardized installation practices

BAS Platform Standardization:

Tridium Niagara Deployment:

• All AMITA facilities: Common platform
• System-wide licensing: 20-25% discount vs. individual
• Shared programming: Control sequences developed once, deployed across system
• Remote monitoring: Central operations center supporting all facilities

Joliet Benefits:

• Lower implementation cost: $385/point vs. $485 standalone
• Enhanced support: System-wide troubleshooting resources
• Faster deployment: Proven sequences vs. custom development

System Benchmarking and Best Practices

Quarterly Energy Performance Review:

Metrics Tracked:

• Energy use intensity (EUI): kBTU/sq ft
• ENERGY STAR scores
• Cost per bed
• Year-over-year trends
• Efficiency project ROI

Performance Comparison:

• AMITA system average ENERGY STAR score: 66 (vs. 52 national average)
• Saint Joseph Joliet: 68 (good performance)
• Presence Saint Joseph: 64 (average, improvement opportunities identified)
• Top AMITA facility: 82 (benchmark for others)

Best Practice Sharing:

• Quarterly system energy meetings
• Top performers present successful strategies
• Case studies documented and distributed
• Site visits enabling peer learning

Results:

• Continuous improvement: 2-3% annual efficiency gains system-wide
• Accelerated implementation: Learn from peer successes and challenges
• Enhanced accountability: Transparent performance comparison

Planning for Will County Growth

Joliet hospitals must balance current operations with planning for continued regional expansion.

5-Year Capital and Energy Planning Integration

Strategic Approach:

AMITA Saint Joseph 5-Year Plan (2024-2029):

Year 1 (2024):

• Boiler #2 replacement (end-of-life): High-efficiency condensing boiler
• Medical office building BAS expansion
• Server room cooling optimization
• Combined investment: $485k net, savings: $95k annually

Year 2 (2025):

• Chiller #1 replacement + waterside economizer addition
• LED retrofit: Remaining 800 fixtures not yet converted
• Energy management information system (EMIS) implementation
• Combined investment: $620k net, savings: $185k annually

Year 3 (2026):

• Emergency department expansion: Design 25% better than code
• Building envelope improvements: Aging 1980s sections
• Compressed air system optimization
• Combined investment: $890k net (includes expansion), savings: $125k annually

Year 4 (2027):

• Variable frequency drives: Major pumps and fans
• Parking lot solar canopy: 200 kW offset
• Water conservation measures
• Combined investment: $725k net, savings: $158k annually

Year 5 (2028-2029):

• Outpatient surgery center addition: Integrated efficiency design
• Central utility plant upgrades for future growth
• Comprehensive recommissioning
• Combined investment: $1.2M net, savings: $195k annually

Planning Benefits:

• Predictable budgets: Smooth capital requirements vs. spikes
• Maximized incentives: Advance planning enables full capture
• Proactive equipment replacement: Avoid premium emergency procurement
• Integrated efficiency: Built into expansions vs. afterthought retrofits
• 5-year cumulative savings: $758k annually, total investment: $3.92M net

Managing Patient Volume Growth

Challenge: Increasing services while reducing absolute energy consumption

Silver Cross Hospital Approach (2015-2023):

2015 Baseline:

• Patient days: 68,500 annually
• Energy consumption: 44M kWh
• Energy intensity: 152 kWh per patient day

2023 Results (after efficiency program):

• Patient days: 89,200 annually (30% increase)
• Energy consumption: 38M kWh (14% reduction)
• Energy intensity: 106 kWh per patient day (30% improvement)

Success Factors:

• Efficiency implementation rate exceeded patient growth
• Aggressive LED and BAS programs delivering 23% facility reduction
• New equipment specified at high efficiency standards
• Continuous commissioning preventing degradation

Key Metric: Energy per patient day (or per bed, per square foot) enables tracking true efficiency independent of volume changes.

Final Recommendations for Joliet Hospital Energy Optimization

Joliet and Will County hospitals operate in exceptional growth environments requiring energy strategies balancing expansion accommodation with aggressive efficiency implementation. Community hospitals benefit from systematic approaches leveraging multi-facility system resources while implementing proven high-ROI measures.

Key Success Factors:

Leverage AMITA System Aggregation: Saint Joseph facilities' $810k combined annual procurement savings demonstrates substantial multi-facility benefits. System-wide equipment standardization saves additional $179k capital costs for Joliet hospitals. Independent Joliet hospitals should explore regional consortium opportunities achieving similar 10-20% advantages through coordinated procurement and implementation.

Prioritize Quick-Payback Measures: Waterside economizers (0.7-year payback), BAS modernization (1.3-1.5 years), and LED retrofits (2.7 years) deliver rapid returns building organizational support for comprehensive programs. Joliet hospitals should target <3-year payback initial projects creating momentum for longer-term investments.

Building Automation Foundation: Presence Saint Joseph's 1.5-year payback BAS upgrade delivering 17% HVAC savings demonstrates exceptional community hospital ROI. Modern BAS enables advanced control sequences impossible with legacy pneumatic/fragmented systems while providing remote monitoring valuable for limited-staff facilities. Every Joliet hospital should complete BAS modernization within 3 years.

Chiller Plant Optimization: Chicago climate's 3,900 hours annual economizer operation creates compelling waterside economizer economics (0.7-0.9 year payback). Silver Cross's 72% cooling energy reduction demonstrates potential. All Joliet hospitals should add economizers during chiller replacements or as standalone projects capturing exceptional ROI.

LED Retrofit Completion: AMITA Saint Joseph's comprehensive 7,800-fixture program achieving 2.7-year payback provides proven template. Combined energy and maintenance savings ($438k annually) justify investment while improving light quality and reducing cooling loads. Joliet hospitals should complete LED conversions within 24 months.

Track Energy Per Patient Day: Silver Cross's 30% improvement in energy per patient day while increasing volume 30% demonstrates managing growth while improving efficiency. Metric enables tracking true performance independent of expansion impacts. All Joliet hospitals should establish and monitor this benchmark.

Maximize ComEd Incentives: Custom and SEM programs offsetting 30-50% of capital costs dramatically improve project economics. Joliet hospitals should target $200-400k incentive capture for comprehensive programs. Advance planning and pre-application ensure maximum rebate qualification.

5-Year Capital Planning Integration: AMITA Saint Joseph's systematic approach planning $3.92M efficiency investment over 5 years delivers $758k cumulative annual savings while managing cash flow and coordination. Proactive equipment replacement captures incentives and high-efficiency specifications vs. reactive emergency procurement accepting available stock. All Joliet hospitals should develop and maintain integrated energy-capital plans.

Regional Healthcare Collaboration: Joliet area's three major hospitals should formalize energy benchmarking and best practice consortium. Silver Cross's ENERGY STAR score 78 provides regional benchmark; Saint Joseph and Presence facilities can learn from documented successes. Quarterly meetings enable shared vendor coordination and lessons learned exchange.

Joliet hospitals implementing these strategies achieve 20-28% energy cost reductions ($650k-1M annually for 400-bed facilities) while accommodating Will County's exceptional patient volume growth. The combination of system aggregation resources, robust ComEd incentives, and proven efficiency measures creates exceptional 1.5-3 year payback opportunities demanding immediate action.

Start today by requesting free ComEd Business Energy Efficiency assessments, implementing ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking against regional peers, and developing 5-year integrated capital-energy plans. Joliet's growing healthcare sector requires strategic management balancing expansion with aggressive efficiency ensuring financial sustainability and patient care excellence.