Niceville’s Twin Cities Hospital Receives PSC’s Triple E Award

Hit by rising costs and increased energy use, Niceville’s Twin Cities Hospital opted to become more energy efficient, earning them the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) May Triple E Award for Energy Efficiency Efforts.
“Hospitals are large energy consumers operating 24 hours a day and patient care often depends on electricity,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.  “We especially recognize Twin Cities Hospital management who contacted their utility to find ways to reduce energy costs, so they can redirect their energy savings to patient care.”
Gulf Power Company (Gulf Power) advised the hospital’s engineers to install a Heat Recovery Chiller (HRC), which was completed last month.  The HRC preheats the water going to the natural gas boiler, reducing or even eliminating the boiler’s work,because it can heat water more efficiently.  HRCs are ideal for use in buildings with simultaneous cooling and heating loads such as hospitals, hotels, and higher education buildings.
“Gulf Power worked with us to realize energy and cost savings,” said Hugo Garza, Twin Cities Hospital Director of Engineering.  “With the new HRC now operational, the hospital saved 110 therms in just one day. We are pleased with this early energy savings and look forward to continued savings that will help with patient care and customer service.”
“Although hospitals use a lot of energy, they have a great opportunity for energy savings, as do many of our business customers,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. “We applaud Twin Cities Hospital’s commitment to save energy and return the cost savings to its core commitment of helping people get well.”
About Twin Cities Hospital
Twin Cities Hospital is a 65-bed facility with a medical staff of over 130 physicians. It offers all private rooms and the areas first Certified Orthopedic Joint Replacement Program and first Certified Spine Surgery Program, in addition to a state-of-the-art surgery center. Twin Cities Hospital also has 24-hour emergency services, a critical care unit, Certified Diabetes Education Program, and a variety of inpatient and outpatient diagnostic imaging and laboratory services. Located at Highway 85 North and College Boulevard in Niceville, Twin Cities Hospital also has the areas only hospital based Wellness Center, offering numerous health related seminars throughout the year. For more information, please visit TCHospital.com or call (850) 678-4131. Extraordinary People—Extraordinary Care
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