HEO

Operating Room Optimization

Saving Energy Where Surgeons Save Lives

Healthcare Environment Optimization™ integrates building automation with surgery scheduling to reduce energy and operational costs

If an operating room is vacant and the HVAC systems are running, will anybody know about the energy that’s wasted? Johnson Controls Healthcare Environment Optimization™ will know, and it integrates a hospital’s building automation system with surgery scheduling to reduce HVAC costs when the operating room isn’t in use.

This new software solution is projected to save up to $10,000 a year per operating room, while still meeting stringent codes for ventilation and elimination of contaminants. Developed through a collaboration with HDR, an architecture, engineering and consulting firm, Healthcare Environment Optimization translates and routes data from surgery scheduling to the building automation system and determines which of the two HVAC system modes should be used: surgery or setback.

“The surgical environment is especially sensitive and corners can never be cut,” said Dave Snapp, facilities director at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, where the system is currently being installed. “Through Healthcare Environment Optimization, we expect to reduce our energy use and operational costs, but more importantly, we plan to do so while maintaining an uncompromising surgical environment for our patients and clinical staff.”

Healthcare Environment Optimization lets hospitals:

  • Optimize the safety, comfort and efficiency of the surgical suite environment.
  • Meet AIA, ASHRAE and local authority standards for air change rates.
  • Integrate with Metasys® or other building automation systems for simplified installation.
  • Automatically record air exchange rates and temperatures for reporting needs.
  • Allow surgical and facility staff to control room conditions, if desired.
  • Address HVAC system problems immediately with real-time alarms.
  • Earn credits toward LEED® and ENERGY STAR® certifications.

Thanks to Healthcare Environment Optimization, when surgeons aren’t saving lives, you can be saving energy and money.