Heating, ventilation & AC upgrades improve care—and the climate
Interior Health (IH) provides health services to close to 900,000 people across the Interior region of B.C. But it takes more than health-care services to keep people healthy—it also takes well-run, safe facilities.
Heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) systems quietly safeguard patient safety, comfort and air quality every day.
By managing the way our buildings use and generate energy, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower utility costs, and create healthier spaces for patients and staff while reducing the impact we have on the environment.
Keeping our patients, staff and communities safe
Every day, patients and staff walk through our doors expecting something simple but essential: a safe, comfortable and reliable care environment. Much of that depends on how well our facilities heat, cool and circulate air.
From keeping surgical suites at the right temperature to ensuring long-term care residents are comfortable through heat waves and cold snaps, our heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are vital.
We continually and actively work behind the scenes to maintain a reliable infrastructure with an eye on longevity. That means visitors to our facilities won’t have to worry about HVAC systems breaking down or being disrupted—critical during extreme weather events like heat domes.
Managing energy in these systems isn’t just about equipment: it’s about protecting health, ensuring safety, and being responsible stewards of public resources.
A plan to advance climate action
Lowering our carbon footprint and extending the life of our infrastructure by retrofitting buildings so they’re more resilient are two ways we’re advancing climate action.
When replacing needed equipment as part of asset planning, we focus on installing lower-emission and more climate-resilient options. We’re also building new facilities with the changing climate in mind.
Our plans are guided by two documents:
- The Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap (CCSR) 2023-2028 was developed to advance sustainability and climate change action at IH, offering a suite of guiding principles, goals and 20 actions to guide IH towards a more sustainable future.
- The Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP) 2022–2023 details how we will meet our long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and CleanBC provincial emission reduction goals, while minimizing costs for infrastructure replacement and energy utilities.
Some of these goals include:
- Reduce energy-use-intensity (energy use per square metre) by 30 per cent by 2030
- Diversify heating sources from fossil fuels to clean energy by 70 per cent by 2030
- Reduce our emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050 to meet provincial emission reduction goals
- Taking action to reduce climate risks and adapt our operations and facilities to enhance climate resilience.
A new edition of the SEMP is coming soon. The new plan will build on the key successes delivered so far and include new initiatives to keep IH as an industry leader in creating sustainable and resilient health-care systems.
Mehrnaz Makuei is a climate resilience coordinator who plays an important role in resilience planning.
“Climate change is no longer a distant concern. Instead, it’s something our communities feel every summer during heat waves, and every winter during storms,” explains Mehrnaz. “At IH, we’re working now to make sure our facilities stay safe, comfortable and resilient for decades to come.”
“When planning new health-care facilities or upgrading existing ones, we carefully consider how to not only enhance our systems but also to integrate proactive strategies that address climate risks,” says Amanda McKenzie, manager, Environmental Sustainability for Interior Health. “This approach allows us to design resilient infrastructure that can adapt to the evolving challenges posed by climate change.”
“When people come to an Interior Health site, they deserve to feel safe and comfortable — whether it’s a hot Okanagan summer or a chilly Kootenay winter. Thanks to recent heating and cooling upgrades, our teams are making that happen. My hope is that the public can rest assured IH is contributing to community and provincial efforts to reduce energy usage and lower carbon emissions.”
Progress and projects that instill pride
Behind the scenes are teams and leaders propelling our projects forward: Plant Services, Capital Planning and Projects, P3 Operations, Energy Management and Environmental Sustainability.
“When we invest in heating and cooling upgrades, we’re investing in people,” says Lynne Seidler, corporate director, Capital Planning and Projects. “These improvements go far beyond energy efficiency. They create environments where patients heal more comfortably, residents live more safely, and staff can focus on care instead of comfort challenges. Better air quality and consistent indoor temperatures mean healthier spaces and stronger communities for everyone who depends on our care.”
Across IH, more than 10 heating and cooling upgrades are underway, replacing aging boilers, chillers and air conditioners with modern systems that provide steadier comfort for patients and staff.
This fall, Pleasant Valley Manor in Armstrong will celebrate a major milestone. A new HVAC system will be installed that makes the site more comfortable for residents and staff while cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
To optimize funding, the Pleasant Valley Health Centre Project is being activated in two phases.
- Phase 1: Installing a new low-carbon air source heat pump
- Phase 2: Integrating the heating system with domestic hot water (DHW)
IH has taken a site that was its worst emitter of GHGs and is turning it into one of the more efficient locations. This is being done by switching from an end-of-service-life chiller to a low-carbon air-source heat pump that can both heat and cool, with no combustion of by-products. In Phase 2, a heat recovery system will supply hot water for the facility.
The new air-source heat pump reduces energy use intensity and diversifies heating sources from fossil fuels (natural gas) to clean energy (electricity). Through this new equipment, and the planned heat recovery, Pleasant Valley Manor will cut natural gas use by 40 per cent and emissions by 114 tCO₂/year.
As another retrofit example, Swan Valley Lodge is undergoing a two-phased project with major energy and low-carbon upgrades. This includes a new air source heat pump and a building automation system (BAS) upgrade.
The new equipment will initially operate in cooling mode, with full heating integration and heat recovery for domestic hot water systems planned once supporting infrastructure is in place, making the site future-ready for clean energy heating. The heating integration phase is targeted for fall 2027.
These changes are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 177 tCO₂e each year, marking a significant step in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting healthier, more efficient spaces for residents and staff.
2025
- Creston Valley Hospital - Boiler Replacement
- Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital - Boiler Replacement
- Columbia View Lodge - Chiller and Cooling Tower Replacement
- Invermere & District Hospital - Boiler Replacement with Biomass Boiler
- Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital – Chiller Replacement
- Pleasant Valley Manor - Chiller and Cooling Tower Overhaul
2026
- Kelowna General Hospital – Heating Plant Upgrade Phase 1a
- Vernon Jubilee Hospital - Heat Recovery Chiller Replacement
- Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre - Chiller Replacement
- Royal Inland Hospital - Heat Recovery Chiller Replacement
- Royal Inland Hospital – Pharmacy Booster Fan Upgrade
- Kootenay Lake Hospital - Heat Pump Upgrade
- Boundary Hospital - Air Handling Unit Replacement
- Dr. Helmcken Memorial – Heat Pump Upgrade
2027
- 100 Mile District General Hospital - Heating and Air Conditioning Upgrades
- Brookhaven Care Centre - Boiler Replacement & Building Automation Upgrade
- Swan Valley Lodge – Chiller Replacement and Building Automation System Upgrade
- Kelowna General Hospital - Heating Plant Upgrade Phase 1b
Through the Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap and the Strategic Energy Management Plan, we’re committed to meeting provincial climate goals while delivering excellent care.
At every level of our organization, from plant services to senior leadership, we’re leading with innovation and collaboration, and proving that sustainable health care is not only possible, but also essential.
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