Updated Thesis Proposal
This proposal discusses alternate systems to be researched for the Geisinger Hospital for Advanced Medicine. The alternatives include the construction of a combined heat and power plant and replacing the variable air volume system with a dedicated outdoor air system.
A combined heat and power plant will lower the cost for electricity and thermal power for the hospital. It will also lower the emissions for the building.
A dedicated outdoor air system will lower the amount of energy used by the building while improving the air quality in the hospital.

Updated Breadth Proposals
Electrical
The installation of a CHP plant would require some redesign of the electrical systems.  Instead of all the electricity being supplied by the utility, most of it will be coming from the CHP plant.  However a hook-up to the utility will still need to remain for when loads exceed the CHP plant’s capacity and in case of any equipment maintenance needed.  The amount of power needed for normal operation must be determined along with emergency power that would be needed from the utility.
Architectural
The installation of the CHP plant will require a redesign of the boiler plant housing, the building will probably have to be resized to make room for the new equipment.  Also the installation of a DOAS may open up more space in the hospital on the fourth floor, due to the decreased sizes of the air handling units in the fourth floor mechanical room.  The main focus of this breadth will be to adjust the site plan and incorporate changes that will need to be made to the boiler house, elevations and floor plans of the boiler house may also be made.  Open space on the fourth floor will be redesignated in floor plans and impacts to elevations will be considered.

Original Thesis Proposal

Original Breadth Proposals