HVAC & Property Operations
The Vital Role of Flow and Energy Measurement in Hospital HVAC Systems
Case Study / 4 min read
Measurement & Control
Connectivity & Communication
Insights & Action
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HVAC & Property Operations
Case Study / 4 min read
A children’s hospital needed to update its inefficient heating and cooling systems to meet modern air quality and eco-friendliness standards.
As a result of this deployment, the hospital was able to improve precision and efficiency of its heating and cooling systems.
With chillers among the most energy-intensive systems in the building, facility managers recognized the need for more precise monitoring and control to meet performance and sustainability goals. The hospital began evaluating more accurate data-driven strategies to manage its heating and cooling operations more efficiently.
In hospitals, medical care depends not only on advanced procedures and equipment but also on consistent indoor air quality and temperature control—both essential for patient safety, infection prevention and staff well-being.
Outdated HVAC systems in older facilities can lead to mold growth, poor air quality, energy waste and inconsistent temperatures—conditions that directly impact health, hygiene and patient satisfaction. The hospital needed a system that could deliver reliable insights and performance across its full HVAC infrastructure.
To improve performance and monitoring, the hospital implemented digital flow technologies capable of measuring flow and energy across both primary and secondary loops—including individual air handlers—without requiring straight pipe runs or mechanical components.
Chillers, which supply chilled water for air cooling and dehumidification, can account for up to 40% of total hospital electricity use. Improving their efficiency and reliability has a major impact on operating costs, emissions and indoor comfort.
To monitor chilled water flow with greater precision, the hospital installed ModMAG® M2000 Electromagnetic and Dynasonics® TFX-5000 Ultrasonic clamp-on flow meters from Badger Meter. These advanced meters use non-intrusive technologies—electromagnetic for in-line measurement and ultrasonic for external pipe mounting—to accurately measure flow rate and thermal energy in real time.
Unlike pressure drop methods, which estimate flow based on inlet and outlet pressure differences, direct digital measurement captures actual velocity and volume. Pressure-based readings are more prone to error due to pipe friction, valve settings and pump speed while digital meters provide consistent actionable data for optimizing chiller performance, improving energy efficiency and reducing maintenance overhead.
Digital flow measurement enables more than just accuracy—it transforms system control:
Flow data also gives hospital engineers clear insight into how their system is operating—supporting fast informed adjustments to maintain optimal performance.
Modern HVAC systems must communicate directly with a hospital’s Building Management System (BMS). The hospital’s new meters support a wide range of protocols—including BACnet MSTP, BACnet/IP, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP/IP and TCP/IP—allowing seamless integration and system-wide visibility.
All devices are tested and certified by BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL), helping maintain compatibility and ease of setup. In contrast, pressure-based systems often require third-party components or vendor-specific hardware to connect to the BMS—adding cost, complexity and potential points of failure.
This project reflects a broader shift toward precision and efficiency in healthcare facility operations. The hospital’s upgraded system demonstrates how real-time digital flow measurement enables greater control, better performance and lower operating costs—without added maintenance burdens.
Digitalizing HVAC infrastructure also lays the groundwork for larger smart building initiatives. With better access to data and increased automation capabilities, hospitals can improve not only energy performance but also occupant comfort, system uptime and safety.
Benefits include:
Flow instrumentation, water quality monitoring and toxic gas detection are all crucial aspects of the management and operation of hospital facilities. The unique and innovative range of solutions from Badger Meter helps to maintain and safeguard clean safe and reliable water supplies in healthcare facilities, optimize and prevent corrosion within HVAC systems, monitor chlorine levels during renal dialysis and validate sterilization cleaning processes by monitoring residual gas levels to help prove efficacy, maintain a safe environment and provide audit trails for regulatory compliance. Our sensor design and manufacturing expertise allow us to deliver the highest level of protection for people and processes within healthcare & pharmaceutical environments.
Prefer to call?
Customer Care representatives are available by phone Monday–Friday, from 9am–5pm CST.
Badger Meter is an industry-leading innovator in flow measurement, water quality and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities and commercial and industrial customers worldwide.
