Pueblo Clinic First in North America to Be Verified Zero Energy
The newest Pueblo Community Health Center (PCHC) clinic – the East Side Clinic, located at 1301 E. 7th Street, was recently updated from “emerging” zero energy to “verified” by the New Buildings Institute (NBI). This makes PCHC the first zero energy outpatient health care facility in North America according to NBI.
The pursuit of zero energy for the East Side Clinic began in the early stages of design with a fully integrated process and the development of a zero energy road map with RTA Architects, MEP engineering consultant Farnsworth Group, and PCHC leadership. In addition, the city of Pueblo adopted a resolution that set a vision to use 100% renewable energy by 2035. As a leading health care provider in the community and a nonprofit, charitable organization that contributes to the quality of life in Pueblo, PCHC wanted to align its organizational sustainability goals with the community’s goals.
The first step was the development of the energy model target. This target was initially based on a 50% reduction of the EnergyStar Baseline energy use for a 60,000-square-foot outpatient facility. Zero energy is accomplished when the total site energy use is offset by total site energy production. "Energy the building uses is provided entirely by the building itself," Donald Moore, PCHC CEO stated. "Through a solar panel system, geothermal underground well system, and state-of-the-art insulation and lighting controls."
PCHC’s East Side Clinic had the “emerging” status for the first year of operations, recently the NBI reviewed the first-year stats (On-site total used - 423,024 kWh ** On-site PV total produced - 435,744 kWh) and moved the status to “verified”.
The East Side Clinic opened its doors to patients on January 10, 2022. The new clinic includes a pharmacy, lab, and dental services, in addition to medical and behavioral health care. The clinic will allow PCHC to serve an additional 5,000 patients over the next 10 years. To learn more about PCHC or to become a patient please call (719) 543-8711 or visit www.pueblochc.org.
