San Diego VA Medical Center
3350 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92161
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San Diego VA Medical Center (SDVA), an integral part of the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), continues to be a leader in providing high quality patient-centered care with advanced technologies and a strong commitment to friendly and compassionate service to the growing population of 235,104 Veterans in the San Diego and Imperial Valley Counties in the Fiscal Year ending 9/30/2015.
Affiliated with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, the Medical Center provided training for 2,410 medical interns, residents, fellows, and other clinical trainees. In addition, its operation relies heavily on volunteers numbering 1,439 in FY 9/30/2015. This is also one of the largest medical research programs within VA nationally, with the number of principal investigators rising to 210 conducting 679 research projects. Recognized by the Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures two years in a row (2012 was the most recent), the VASDHS is ranked among the top 33 percent of all accredited hospitals.
The Medical Center and VA San Diego Health Care System continues to receive green program awards including the following:2015 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Emerald Partner for Change Award for its commitment to improving its environmental performance, One of the Recyclers of the Year in the City of San Diego’s 2015 Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards Program, ENERGY STAR certification for the 5th consecutive year in 2014. Partners for Change Award under Practice Greenhealth's 2013 Environmental Excellence Awards, Recycler of the Year awarded by the City of San Diego; The Green Environmental Management System 2013 Woman of the Year Award received by Jean Parkinson, Green Environmental Management System Coordinator, for her leadership in sustainability.
In 2015, The White House issued Executive Order (EO)13693 which requires Federal Agencies to meet greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals through 2025 while mandating reduction in energy intensity by 2.5% annually through FYE2025 relative to the agency’s 2015 energy use baseline. EO 13693 further ensures that Federal Agencies have targets for increasing their renewable and alternative energy sources.
The VASDHS incorporated the goals into its Energy and Water Management Plan in 2015 and is guided by the six Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings (Guiding Principles) issued on 2/26/16 by the White House Council on Environmental Quality in its renovations of existing buildings and new construction projects. In its Strategic Plan for 2010-2017, building renovations and new construction projects incorporating ECM and water efficiency are underway: a new parking structure was opened in the first quarter of 2016. The Medical Center plans to replace the Spinal Cord Injury Unit within the next few years.
Several water efficiency projects have been identified for FY 2017 and beyond including replacement of plumbing fixtures with high efficiency units. These renovations are continuing and old equipment that operate at or beyond useful life are replaced with more efficient current technologies, such as old VAV boxes, thirty-five air handlers, conversion of HVAC pneumatic to direct digital control or switching from failing fluorescent lighting fixtures to LED while lighting controls are added in select spaces. In these building projects, water and energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reductions are quantified and tracked by project.
In FY 2015, a 210kWh solar photovoltaic system (PV) began producing energy on site supplementing the energy produced by the existing combined heat power (CHP):the PV allows the hospital to further reduce its use of the grid-generated electricity when demand is high or when the cogeneration plant is down for maintenance.
Additional solar PV capacity is planned in the next few years as funding is made available. Project managers consult with Mr. Jon Coger, Energy Engineer, VA San Diego Healthcare System to ensure that sustainability, renewable energy and energy efficiency goals set by Veteran Health Administration (VHA) are met. The SDVA building is benchmarked quarterly monitoring the minor repairs to major renovation activities and annual changes in census.
In order to improve the energy performance of the building, the following measures were taken in 2014-2016:
1. A retro commissioning study was conducted by VHA and the results of the study has led the Energy Engineering team to consider the following four energy conservation measures (ECM):
a) Replace a CHP turbine that has reached end of life in 2015;
b) Use of Direct Digital Control to set back temperature in unoccupied spaces such as conference rooms;
c) Retrofit of interior lighting with LED while harvesting daylightin spaces facing the outside;
d) Increase automation of the chiller plant.
2. The Energy Engineer continues to share many emerging energy and water efficiency technologies with his colleagues, particularly in the advanced lighting control and LED lighting areas. Several lighting pilots were successfully conducted with LED fixtures in the psychiatric ward, examination rooms, and laboratories. The excellent results recorded in surveys of occupants allowed Mr. Coger to share these new technologies with the facilities, engineering and design teams. An advanced lighting control system was specified in a new construction project as a result of the pilot conducted in partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric Emerging Technologies Program in 2010-2012.
3. Three air conditioning/air handling units were replaced in 2014 with new higher efficiency models as the old ones were failing and running inefficiently.
4. The public elevator and service elevator systems were replaced with new and more energy efficient elevator cars and hosting systems. Approximately six public elevators and four service elevators were replaced in 2014.
5. The SDVA continues to implement electricity demand reduction strategies during hot summer months by "load shedding" during critical peak usage. This has helped San Diego Gas & Electric meet peak demand usage throughout San Diego County in spite of record temperatures recorded in August and September.
The 2016 Energy and Water Management Plan is being prepared by the VASDHS and will incorporate the goals of Executive Order 13693 and Guiding Principles and the results of energy performance benchmarking. VASDHS' Engineering, Design, and Facilities Management teams adhered to the guidelines of Executive Order 13514, the VA's 2013-2015 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) and Climate Change Adaptation Plan. VASDHS leadership and the Department of Veteran Affairs Washington, DC Headquarters have recognized the team in meetings and in press releases every year (greenva@va.gov). Increasing energy and water efficiency and use of renewable energy allows the VASDHS teams to reduce the extra funding required for high utility bills and fulfill VA’s mission to “maximize resources available for Veterans’ care.” (VA Directive 0055 Purpose and Scope). Special recognition goes to Mr. Jon Coger, Energy Engineer, for his exemplary commitment to Federal and VA Sustainability initiatives. He incorporates in his Energy and Water Management Plan the goals of Executive Order 13693 and the 2016 Guiding Principles for Federal Sustainable Buildings. Mr. Coger shares within SDVA high efficiency and emerging technologies, recognizing the need to assess and implement high performing technologies developed by industry in order to meet the goals of Executive Orders 13693 through 2025.
Communications:
Unavailable
Testimonial:
Unavailable
Please note: Narrative information in this profile has been provided by VA San Diego Healthcare System or a representative of this facility. Other building information was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.
Federal Building
Building Owner:*
VA San Diego Healthcare System
Property Manager:*
N/A
Year(s) Labeled (Rating):
2010 (75)
2011 (75)
2012 (76)
2013 (75)
2014 (79)
2016 (82)
Facility Type: Hospital (General Medical & Surgical)
Total Floorspace: 938272 sf
Year Constructed: 1972
Contract Type: None
Technologies Used:
Unavailable