An energy improvement plan will save Sonoma Valley Hospital a projected $175,000 per year – enough to pay off the $2.1 million upgrade in about 10 years.
The bulk of the funding for the project is a low-interest $1.97 million loan from the California Energy Commission, part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “stimulus” funds from the Federal Government. Additional funds will come from a PG & E rebate.
“This is very good news,” said Norman Gilroy, a member of the hospital’s facilities advisory team, “Finally!”
Gilroy, a retired architect, has been working for months researching incentive programs and technologies, arranging for audits of the hospital’s energy usage, and gathering options for the hospital’s energy plan.
Gilroy said nearly 80 percent of the funds would be used to transform the hospital’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning into an energy-efficient system which takes optimum advantage of energy availability and pricing. The system would save on energy costs while reducing greenhouse emissions.
The plan also calls for new LED technologies and more efficient fluorescent lights in the operating rooms, and occupancy sensors that turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied. Double-paned tinted windows will replace older, single-pane windows in some parts of the hospital. Nearly 10 percent of the California Energy Commission funding will contribute to renovating the hospital’s IT system.
In thanking the facilities team, Carl Gerlach, CEO of Sonoma Valley Hospital, praised Gilroy’s contribution. “Norman has been invaluable. He’s worked tirelessly not only to secure this loan, but on all the steps leading to it.”
Gerlach credited Gilroy with figuring out how to meet upgrade needs without buying additional property, and helping to push through legislation which will enable the hospital to save one third on the renovation cost.
“And now,” Gerlach said of Gilroy, “he has helped get us this loan which will enable us to save money and energy at the same time.” The research and the resulting loan will deliver “the best bang for the buck for the taxpayers of this community.”
