Case Study: Othello Community Hospital improves humidity control and reduces energy costs with Trane Commercial

Othello Community Hospital - Customer Case Study

Othello Community Hospital in Othello, Washington, faced serious humidity control problems in its operating rooms, especially during summer and when nearby fields were being irrigated. The unstable conditions disrupted surgeries, increased re-sterilization work, raised energy costs, and made it harder to maintain comfort and retain staff and physicians. To address this, the hospital turned to Trane Commercial for an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) and related audit services.

Trane Commercial completed an Investment Grade Audit and then implemented humidity control upgrades, HVAC reset improvements, inverter-rated motors, and variable frequency drives to reduce simultaneous heating and cooling and improve system performance. The project received more than $240,000 in grants, including over $209,000 from the Department of Commerce and more than $35,000 from Avista, and verified energy savings exceeded projections. The hospital reports better airflow, improved comfort, and a project expected to be cash-positive within 10 years.

Othello Community Hospital

Stan Fuhriman

Maintenance Manager