Connecticut VA Medical Center Benefits from Energy Efficiency Upgrades

More than eight million veterans are provided access to healthcare through the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, the country’s largest healthcare system. As part of the federal program, the VA Connecticut Healthcare system encompasses two ambulatory care centers and six primary care community-based outpatient clinics across the state serving approximately 56,000 patients.

Under the Veterans Health Administration, VA Medical Centers have a number of energy conservation programs and construction goals to meet. Recently, the ambulatory care center and inpatient facility in West Haven, Connecticut, partnered with The United Illuminating Company to develop strategic plans and assess financial assistance for energy efficiency projects. They aimed to minimize wasted resources and reduce operating costs to help meet their conservation goals.

With UI’s expertise and resources, the VA Medical Center upgraded to high-efficiency interior lighting through the Energy Conscious Blueprint program, as part of the Energize Connecticut initiative. The program provided assistance and installation of high-quality lighting systems, using cost-effective modern lighting technologies to replace old fixtures.

The VA Medical Center installed almost 50 high-performance T8 fluorescent light fixtures in patient rooms, administration buildings, staff offices and utility rooms. They received $1,667 in incentives to make the energy-efficient upgrades. With the savings achieved, UI estimates the timeframe for the VA Medical Center to repay the cost of the project to be 2.3 years. Over a 15-year period, the lighting improvements are estimated to save 69,900 kwH annually or $12,500.