At McKinstry, our mission is to make every building we touch more efficient. “Mission: Possible” is a new monthly series featuring projects around the country that demonstrate our mission in action. 

Since 2013, our Seattle energy team has worked with MultiCare (an integrated healthcare network made up of eight hospitals and numerous clinics across Washington) to deliver more than 30 projects and make every MultiCare building we touch more efficient. 

At Good Samaritan Hospital (located in Puyallup, Wash.), MultiCare and McKinstry recently implemented a combined heat and power (CHP) system. This innovative system allows the hospital to generate its own power on-site, which is drastically more reliable, cost efficient and energy efficient. 

At Good Samaritan, the new two-megawatt CHP system came online in late 2019 and was fully implemented in early 2020. The system will cut combined energy and maintenance costs by 25 percent, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent, as compared to just connecting to the standard power grid. 

The CHP system is now the full-time power system for the entire hospital and—to maximize efficiency—the excess heat generated by the system is also captured and used to create steam and to heat water for space heating, humidification, sterilization and domestic hot water used by patients, staff and families throughout the hospital. 

At the national level, a 2016 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report on the technical potential of CHP in the U.S. found that CHP systems can reduce strain on the electric grid while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, concluding that “CHP is a clean energy solution that directly addresses a number of national priorities.” 

“CHP systems are not just a technical solution, they’re also about lightening the carbon footprint of our clients,” said McKinstry Chief Market Officer Ash Awad. “By implementing these systems, we’re putting our clients on the same path that McKinstry and many utilities are on: To become carbon-free.” 

For more details about our CHP project with Good Samaritan hospital, check out our full case study here.