Gifford Medical Center Earns Energy Star Certification

RANDOLPH, Vt. — Gifford Medical Center became one of the first hospitals in Vermont to achieve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Certification for their main medical campus in Randolph.

According to Dough Pfohl, Gifford’s director of facilities, it was the hospitals goal to achieve the Energy Star rating this year and they worked hard to become one of the first to be given the certification. To be considered Energy Star certified, the building has to meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. The building has to perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities for their energy efficiency nationwide. The majority of certified facilities use, on average, 35 percent less energy than other buildings and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the environment.

The EPA ranking only covers the main medical campus in Randolph, but all renovations and improvements at Gifford have kept energy efficiency in mind since the 1980s. The recent renovation included two major improvements.

An energy efficient 90-ton chiller replaced an old and aging 50-ton chiller and structures were put into place for three new chillers to accommodate future upgrades to the hospital. The hospital also installed an energy recovery unit to capture returned air and recondition it for reuse. The new “climatized” air requires much less energy to either re-heat or re-cool the air.

Other upgrades throughout Gifford include low-occupancy settings for heat and electricity, an improved kitchen ventilation system and the installation of LED lighting throughout the hospital.

Gifford Medical Center worked closely with Efficiency Vermont to ensure energy reduction and find additional ways to reduce energy costs and consumption. Liz Gamache, director of Efficiency Vermont said that the Gifford campus is setting a great example for other medical campuses throughout the state.