Northwell Health Cuts Energy Use with APM Steam’s Preventive Maintenance Program
Cutting costs and emissions with smarter steam system maintenance
STEAM: Northwell Health’s proactive steam system maintenance program highlights how data-driven, preventive maintenance can cut energy use and operational expenses. (Courtesy of APM Steam)
Northwell Health stands as New York’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, leading the charge in sustainability and energy efficiency. With 23 hospitals, more than 16,600 credentialed doctors, 18,900 nurses, and 5,000 volunteers, the organization is essential to communities across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and beyond.
In 2018, Northwell formed an Energy Steering Committee to monitor energy usage and roll out initiatives aimed at shrinking its carbon footprint. Among these efforts is a partnership with American Plant Maintenance (APM Steam), focusing on maintaining steam systems to boost efficiency and trim energy use — while still delivering excellent patient care.
The Challenge
Northwell Health’s facilities depend heavily on intricate steam systems for heating, sterilization, and other core functions. Keeping these systems in top shape is vital to both operational efficiency and patient safety. Steam traps—crucial for removing condensate without losing steam—can deteriorate over time. Even a single malfunctioning trap can waste large amounts of energy, increase emissions, and drive up costs. With hundreds of traps across numerous hospitals, Northwell needed a proactive, scalable solution to quickly find and fix issues.
The Solution
In 2019, Northwell Health teamed up with APM Steam, based in Woburn, Mass., to kick off an annual steam system maintenance program. This initiative includes surveying steam traps throughout the network, pinpointing problems, and making needed repairs. APM Steam’s thorough process covers inspecting traps, repairing or replacing defective parts, adding insulation to cut heat loss, and descaling heat exchangers for peak performance. They also handle utility incentive paperwork, helping Northwell secure available rebates and delivering the data needed to prioritize the most impactful fixes.
Haneef Khan, from Northwell’s Energy Steering Committee, sums up the impact: “The energy and cost savings were staggering. Combine that with incentive funding for energy reduction by National Grid and ConEd, we can achieve payback in well under 12 months by proactively maintaining steam traps, system insulation and heat exchangers across our hospital portfolio. We’re reducing our impact on the planet by reducing our CO2 emissions. The dollars we save in energy can be used to improve the quality of services we offer the communities we serve.”
Key Outcomes
The collaboration has produced significant benefits for Northwell Health. Since January 1, 2022, APM Steam has inspected 9,817 steam traps across the system, leading to impressive results:
- $2,403,672 in combined gas and electricity savings
- 946,500 natural gas therms conserved
- $1,162,551 in utility incentives earned
These achievements delivered a return on investment (ROI) in just 1.4 years. Reducing natural gas usage has not only saved money but also meaningfully cut Northwell’s carbon emissions. The project furthers the network’s sustainability goals, improves operational efficiency, and frees up funds for other critical needs.
Through the years, Northwell has made energy efficiency a priority, taking full advantage of incentive programs from National Grid and ConEdison. These incentives have played a big role in lowering project costs and speeding up payback times. With APM Steam’s ongoing support, Northwell keeps its steam systems running safely and efficiently—minimizing waste, maximizing savings, and ensuring reliability across all hospitals.
Wrap-Up
Northwell Health’s proactive steam system maintenance program highlights how data-driven, preventive maintenance can cut energy use and operational expenses. Working with APM Steam, the hospital network shows that routine upkeep and smart use of utility incentives can bring major financial and environmental rewards.
Looking ahead, Northwell Health is dedicated to expanding these efforts across its hospitals, reinvesting energy savings to enhance patient care, upgrade facilities, and better serve the communities that rely on them.
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