Hughes Health & Rehabilitation Inaugurates Green Energy-Saving Technology

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Health & Rehabilitation, Inc., today inaugurated its new 75kW cogeneration plant to help reduce the facility's energy costs and carbon footprint. West Hartford Deputy Mayor Tim Brennan and many others attended today's announcement.

"This is a historic day for Hughes as we incorporate modern green energy-saving technology into our 50-year-old operation," said Mark Finkelstein, vice president and administrator.  "Our new cogeneration plant furthers Hughes' commitment to be a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing an environment conducive to our residents' convalescence and recovery," added Finkelstein.

Hughes, a 170-bed rehabilitation center located in an historic home in West Hartford, researched various alternative technologies. Aegis Energy Services, of Holyoke MA, provided the facility with an in-depth energy analysis and comprehensive plan for the system's integration with the existing buildings' infrastructure.

Hughes selected a CHP (Combined Heat and Power) system developed and installed by Aegis Energy Services.  CHP, also known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of useable heat and electricity from one fuel source -- in this case natural gas.  

Hughes' new cogeneration plant consists of one 75kW Aegen ThermoPower CHP system located in the building's boiler area. The unit will provide up to 53% of the facility's electricity at a cost well below market prices from the electric grid. Thermal energy from the CHP plant will simultaneously provide domestic hot water and space heating for the facility. "The system is expected to save our facility in excess of $50,000 per year, with a great simple payback on our investment," said Hughes' Treasurer Michael Wilbur.  In addition, the CHP project includes a 15-year discount on gas transmission through the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC).

Aegis Energy Services' CHP systems are a recognized carbon reduction technology because they are far more efficient than separate generation of heat and electricity. Heat that is normally wasted in conventional power generation is instead recovered to satisfy thermal loads, offsetting separate boiler use, at the site where the units are installed. Extracting a greater amount of energy from the single fuel input translates directly into reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.

Lee Vardakas, General Manager of Aegis Energy Services, said, "Hughes Health is a great example of the many healthcare facilities that we have been able to help contain rising costs."

SOURCE Hughes Health & Rehabilitation, Inc.