c a s e s t u dy

Building a Smart, Sustainable

Healing Environment for Children
rady
childrens
hospital

Creating the right healing environment is an

important part of improving the health of
hospital patients. When those patients are
children, the space and the building itself play
a big part in creating a sense of normalcy
during a challenging time. The new Acute
Care Pavilion at Rady Childrens Hospital in
San Diego achieves this and more.
This new facility also serves as a stellar

Key Highlights

example of sustainable design. Notes Kathe

Program Participation:

Cordova, SDG&E Commercial & Industrial

Savings By Design

Steps Taken:

Indoor Air Quality Plan

High performance
HVAC systems

Maximum day-lighting

Reflective, cool roof

kWh Saved =
1,837,039

$ Savings =
$231,114

Services Manager, In the development of the

new Pavilion, Rady Childrens used the SDG&E
Savings By Design program to go above and
beyond California energy-efficiency guidelines,
exceeding Title 24 energy standards by
15.3%. These efforts are anticipated to save
more than 1.8 million kWh and $231,114 in
energy costs per year.

Designed to Save Lives

As the largest childrens hospital and the
first LEED certified acute care hospital in
California, Rady Childrens now has 150
additional beds to help care for the most
critically ill children and newborns. According
to Tim Jacoby, Vice President of Facilities at
Rady Childrens, We were out of beds and
out of operating rooms. We had to have the
space. While most hospital improvements are
made with immediate cost-savings in mind,
Rady Childrens approached the build with a
long-term perspective. Adds Jacoby, We
wanted to make it sustainable, maintainable,

Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego is the first LEED

certified acute care hospital in the state.

promotes better patient outcomes, reveals

Marianne Sy, SDG&E Savings By Design
Senior Account Executive. The Pavilion was
meticulously designed for energy efficiency,
as well as to create an open, inviting, quiet,
and healing-focused space. The building itself
is engineered to make the most of natural
daylight, which has reduced the need for
artificial daytime lighting. The Indoor Air
Quality Plan called for highly efficient HVAC
equipment and delivery systems to ensure
the air circulating throughout the indoor
space was clean. In addition, the cool roof
minimizes heat gain and maintains water
runoff for added efficiencies.

and efficient over a 30-year lifetime.

State-of-the-Art Meets
State-of-the-Heart

Rady Childrens applied evidence-based

The hospital decided to pursue LEED

design to create a facility that specifically

certification for the Pavilion because it was

(Continued on back)

right for the environment, for energy efficiency, and also

because it benefitted the staff, patients and their families.
Jacoby expands, The biggest cost of a building is the ongoing
operations. If we can increase the operating efficiency of
mechanical and electrical systems and reduce that operating
cost, we can take that money and put it to directly serving
children instead of infrastructure. In addition, better air
quality and more efficient systems also help reduce the chance
of infections and medical errors.
As part of Savings by Design, the hospital worked closely with
SDG&E to integrate efficiency measures and reduce costs.
Says Jacoby, SDG&E was not just a utility company on this.
They were true partners in helping us validate our design to
make sure we would get good credits back and meet efficiency
for Title 24. He further adds, We had a homerun on this
because the entire team the contractor, design team, our
consultants, our partners like SDG&E all wanted to do what
was best for the kids. I think we ended up with a fabulous
project because of that.

The chilled water system increases the hospitals energy efficiency.

About SDG&E Programs

Savings By Design gives commercial customers an energy-efficient head start when it comes to new construction projects.
This program encourages the design and construction of high-performance projects that offer economic, health and
environmental advantages to building owners, building occupants and the public.

P. O. B ox 129831 SA NDIEG O , C A 92 112- 9831

1-80 0 -411-7 343
sdge.com
To schedule a free technical assessment, or to learn which SDG&E program is right for your business, contact your SDG&E account executive,
call the Energy Savings Center at: 1-800-644-6133 or email ESC@semprautilities.com.
2011 San Diego Gas & Electric Company. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. All rights reserved. Some materials used under license, with all rights reserved by licensor.
These programs are funded by California utility customers and administered by SDG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Rebates and incentives are provided
on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds are no longer available.

06/11