Siemens has begun working on the first phase of a 12-year energy savings performance contract with Signature Healthcare that covers seven locations in Bridgewater and Brockton, Mass., including Brockton Hospital. The contract aligns with the healthcare system’s master energy plan to reduce energy consumption and energy purchasing costs, while maximizing the use of renewable energy wherever possible.

Signature is projected to achieve more than $380,000 in operational savings and more than $470,000 in energy savings in the first year. In addition to increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy usage and associated costs, the upgrades will improve patient and staff comfort and help eliminate vulnerabilities for equipment downtime or failure.

Siemens’ Financial Services Division is supporting the project through financing both the performance contract and providing a 10-year refinancing package. The refinancing package serves to significantly free up the healthcare system’s financial resources and increase fiscal flexibility and stability.

Financing from Siemens enables organizations such as Signature Healthcare to implement infrastructure projects both affordably and efficiently, whether a customer is looking to conserve cash or credit lines, accelerate business, or increase operational flexibility.

“Siemens is providing a turnkey project from start to finish,” says Jim Papadakos, CFO of Signature Healthcare. “They identified opportunities for improvements and facilitated financing and incentives.”

The performance contract allows Signature to improve its infrastructure through facility improvement measures such as boiler plant and steam trap replacements, energy efficient pumps, variable frequency drives, cogeneration, building envelope, lighting and sensor upgrades, high efficiency transformers, water conservation measures, and an operating room HVAC retrofit.

Part of Siemens’ Total Energy Management approach, the energy efficiency measures will also significantly reduce the healthcare network’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, with estimated electric savings of 22% and natural gas savings of 24%.

As part of the contract, Siemens will also work with the local utility companies to secure rebates for Signature, totaling an estimated $265,000 annually over the next two fiscal years.

“Hospitals and healthcare facilities have a vast network of building system components hidden within the walls that must operate consistently and efficiently for everyone’s comfort and safety,” says Joseph Peters, Zone Vice President for Siemens Building Technologies Division. “With more than 2,000 employees in the state of Massachusetts, Siemens is proud to support a healthcare system that is not only improving its facilities for patient comfort, but also improving its environmental footprint.”  

The Siemens Building Technologies Division