November 21, 2024

Major efficiency upgrade enhances Queens Hospital’s infrastructure and reduces the hospital’s carbon emissions

NEW YORK – Today, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) announced the completion of a large-scale energy efficiency upgrade at NYC Health + Hospital/Queens. The project marks the latest milestone in both agencies’ ongoing efforts to optimize energy use and decarbonize building operations by implementing technologies that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. These upgrades enhance the hospital’s sustainable infrastructure and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, creating a healthier environment for patients and staff while transforming the facility into a greener, more energy-efficient healthcare hub.

Pictured above: Queens Hospital in Jamaica, Queens

The $8.2 million energy project is expected to save 1.4 million kWh of electricity and 218,000 therms of natural gas annually, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,500 metric tons of CO2e per year—equivalent to removing the emissions of over 300 cars. Additionally, these upgrades will generate more than $400,000 in annual energy savings.

“Lowering carbon emissions in healthcare facilities is a vital step in our push towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient New York City; with this upgrade, we are making significant strides to improve energy efficiency in our city’s much-needed healthcare facilities,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “We are proud to continue our ongoing partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals, as these upgrades enhance Queens Hospital’s infrastructure and also help shape a greener future for our city.”

“This vital project underscores the public hospital system’s ongoing commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable environment for our patients, staff, and communities that we serve, while advancing our efforts to decarbonize operations and further reinforcing our dedication to a cleaner environment and more resilient buildings,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Decarbonization Officer Omer Cabuk. “We thank our partners at DCAS for their invaluable support and investment in our infrastructure and decarbonization initiatives, which are essential to reducing emissions and building a healthier, more sustainable city.”

“Investing in energy efficiency is crucial not just for reducing costs, but for enhancing public health and preserving our environment for future generations,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens CEO Neil J. Moore, MBA, MPA, FACHE. “This significant upgrade empowers Queens Hospital to deliver high-quality care while significantly reducing our carbon footprint, ultimately fostering a healthier community and a more sustainable ecosystem.”

“DCAS’ Division of Energy Management is laser-focused on reducing emissions from our highest-emitting buildings to ensure we meet city government’s 50% emissions reduction target by 2030,” said NYC’s Chief Decarbonization Officer and DCAS Deputy Commissioner of Energy Management Sana Barakat. “Large, comprehensive projects like this one at H+H are essential to get us to our targets faster, and we intend to complete and identify more in the coming years. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at H+H and other agencies to complete high-impact projects that make our communities and environment healthier.”

As part of the latest project at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, key improvements include the installation of an advanced chiller plant optimization system, modern exterior lighting systems, Wi-Fi enabled window AC systems, and boiler burner control upgrades. Additionally, as part of efforts to electrify thermal loads, a state-of-the-art heat pump domestic water heater was installed, capturing ambient heat in the air and transferring it to the water. These upgrades to the hospital’s HVAC system allow for improved control over heating, cooling, and ventilation functions.

The project was completed in partnership with DCAS’ Energy Management division (DEM), which provided $6 million in funding, as well as technical support. DCAS plays a critical role in supporting agency partners in their energy reduction and emissions goals. Projected to save over $413,000 on energy costs each year, the Queens Hospital upgrade will help city government meet its mandate to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 through investments in over thousands of efficiency projects each year.

The Queens Hospital upgrade is part of DCAS’ Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) Program, which provides funding, and facilitates energy efficiency, emission reduction, and distributed generation capital projects through partnerships with city agencies. Other projects include solar panel installations, boiler retrofits, fuel oil conversion projects, and lighting upgrades. This initiative highlights the City’s dedication to implementing sustainable technologies that work to reduce the carbon footprint of municipal buildings and safeguard the environment. Over the past decade, DCAS and partner agencies have contributed nearly $1 billion in funding across over 14,000 completed energy conservation projects, leading to a reduction of 372,000 MTCO2e—an impact equivalent to removing 80,000 cars from the road. These projects are estimated to have reduced annual energy costs by $128 million.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services:
The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees
• Managing 55 public buildings
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country
• Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas or by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

About NYC Health + Hospitals:
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens:
A member of NYC Health and Hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is a major health care provider in the borough of Queens. Its foremost mission is to provide quality, comprehensive care to all members of the public regardless of their ability to pay. The year 2015 marked its 80th anniversary of serving the communities of central and southeastern Queens, having first opened its doors as Queens General Hospital in 1935. Encompassing 360,000 square feet, it comprises 253 licensed beds, spacious ambulatory care suites featuring both primary and specialty services, and cutting-edge equipment. It also houses four Centers of Excellence: Cancer Care, Diabetes Management, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Health.  The hospital has recently added a fully expanded Emergency Room, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence accredited by the American College of Radiology, and a Total Hip and Knee Replacement Center, with plans underway to build the Health System’s first Dialysis Center to train patients to perform their own at-home dialysis.  To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/queens.

Contact:
Dan Kastanis
Director of Media Relations, DCAS
communications@dcas.nyc.gov