Ascension: Energy performance

Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Since 2008, Ascension has improved energy performance by an average of 3.2% each year across more than 50 buildings tracked as part of the Better Buildings Challenge, equivalent to cumulative savings of 22% since its baseline year.  Energy savings have been achieved by conducting energy audits, commissioning, and retro-commissioning projects; upgrading Building Automation Systems; installation of variable-speed drives; retrofitting lighting systems to LED; installing heat pump chiller heaters; installing boiler heat recovery systems; and improving building systems as part of infrastructure renewal through the Facility Infrastructure Pool.

Looking at the percent improvement in energy performance across all facilities can provide insight into how an organization is saving energy. Ascension has achieved energy performance improvement of greater than 15% at more than 30 of its properties. There are 8 properties that have experienced an increase in Source EUI. These properties have been targeted for future energy efficiency improvements.

Property-level energy performance metrics, including EUI and percent improvement to date, are critical to track progress over time and identify opportunties for additional energy savings. Ascension's portfolio consists of properties with a wide range of baseline Source EUI values, most of which are from 400 to 700 kBtu/sq. ft. The majority of properties have shown energy improvement since 2008. The properties located near or below the 0% axis may present good opportunities for further savings.