When they’re optimized, central plants become catalysts for resilience, sustainability and savings. The post Beyond the Boiler Room, Part II: The Benefits of Targeted Optimization appeared first on HCO News. The post Beyond the Boiler Room, Part II: The Benefits of Targeted Optimization appeared first on HCO News.

When they’re optimized, central plants become catalysts for resilience, sustainability and savings. | Photo Credit: TLC Engineering Solutions

By Kirk Glazer 

Part 1 of this article examined the everyday challenges that keep central plants stuck in “keep it running” mode; in Part 2, the focus shifts to what assessments and modeling uncover—and how targeted optimization can improve reliability, reduce waste, and support healthier environments. 

Surprises Beneath the Surface 

What makes central plant optimization so compelling is the number of hidden issues it reveals. Take a facility in the Northeast, powered by district steam. Logic suggested its steam usage should spike in the winter and drop in the summer. Yet data revealed a flat-line consumption year-round—a red flag pointing to a costly problem. 

At one campus, an assessment revealed that the institution had been paying utility bills for buildings it didn’t even own. In another case, a central energy plant’s control system was bogged down by excessive trend data, obscuring inefficiencies until deeper analysis revealed it was one of the least efficient plants in recent memory. 

These discoveries underscore a critical point: without proper analysis, inefficiencies remain invisible, silently draining resources and exposing organizations to unnecessary risk. The urgency becomes even clearer in healthcare, where the quality of plant performance can directly shape patient safety and outcomes. 

Why Healthcare Can’t Ignore This 

The implications of central plant performance are especially stark in healthcare. While energy has rarely been a primary focus in this sector, the connection between plant operations and patient well-being is undeniable. Poorly controlled humidity, for example, can create mold and mildew that compromise indoor air quality. For patients with respiratory conditions, that’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a health risk. 

Optimized plants, on the other hand, improve reliability, reduce maintenance emergencies, and free up staff to focus on patient care. In an industry where every decision is measured against its impact on outcomes, energy efficiency must be seen as part of the care equation, not separate from it. With so much at stake, leaders need practical insights they can act on to move beyond awareness toward meaningful optimization.  

Lessons for Leaders 

So what should healthcare leaders take away from this? First, optimization is not a software problem. Proprietary platforms aren’t required; sound logic, careful observation, and basic modeling tools can uncover significant gains. 

Second, small oversights can have big consequences. A single valve set incorrectly after a system shift can waste energy and money for years. 

Third, every plant is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each system must be observed, analyzed, and tailored based on its quirks and load profiles. 

Finally, the organizational hurdles that often slow these projects can be overcome when savings are clearly demonstrated. Today’s savings don’t just reduce tomorrow’s bills—they pay for tomorrow’s equipment. Taken together, these lessons underscore a powerful truth: central plants are not background utilities but untapped engines for savings, resilience, and well-being. 

From Background Utility to Strategic Asset 

Central plants will never be glamorous. They don’t grace brochures or attract attention from passersby. But they are the heart of any building’s energy infrastructure, and when they’re ignored, they quietly bleed resources. When they’re optimized, they become catalysts for resilience, sustainability, and savings. 

The real power of a central plant lies not in cutting-edge technology, but in seeing what’s already there with fresh eyes. By applying simple modeling, reframing efficiency as reinvestment, and uncovering hidden inefficiencies, institutions can turn these overlooked systems into strategic assets. 

For healthcare and beyond, that shift can make all the difference—transforming not just buildings, but the lives of the people inside them, all by uncovering the untapped potential of central plants. 

Taken together, this two-part series shows how central plants can move from overlooked infrastructure to strategic assets—improving performance, reducing risk, and unlocking reinvestment through practical, data-driven optimization. 

Kirk Glazer, PE, CEM, BEMP, is Principal and Project Engineer with TLC Engineering Solutions. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

The post Beyond the Boiler Room, Part II: The Benefits of Targeted Optimization appeared first on HCO News.

The post Beyond the Boiler Room, Part II: The Benefits of Targeted Optimization appeared first on HCO News.

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