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NEW ORLEANS (press release) – In 2021, LCMC Health partnered with Bernhard to enter into a 15-year agreement to provide Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) solutions at seven of the healthcare system’s regional facilities.
The EaaS arrangement transfers the risk of utility operations and maintenance of LCMC Health’s chilled water system to Bernhard and allows for state-of-the-art infrastructure upgrades at locations including Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Touro Infirmary, Woldenberg Village, East Jefferson General Hospital, West Jefferson Medical Center, Audubon Retirement Village, and University Medical Center.
“This partnership with Bernhard allows LCMC Health to invest in patient care and support community outcomes while focusing on improving efficiencies and sustainability at our hospitals and facilities,” said Scott Landry Senior, vice president of facilities & support services, LCMC Health. “The upgrades that are being completed through the LCMC Health Green project will not only improve cost savings for the system, but it will also benefit the community at large with reductions in carbon, gas and electricity consumption.”
Bernhard is delivering $88 million in upfront improvements to LCMC Health’s infrastructure including upgrades to chilled water, tower water, heating water, and steam systems, as well as air handling units, building controls and electrical infrastructure. Bernhard will also install three new heat pump chiller heaters, optimized procedure rooms, installation of LED lighting and facilitation of retro-commissioning of the building automation systems. These upgrades will create efficiencies and improvements in each facility’s operations and provide $8 million in annual utility cost savings once the improvements are completed.