Hospitals and Clinics

In 1883, Warren Johnson (the founder of Johnson Controls) invented the first pneumatic thermostat. It used compressed air to automatically regulate the heating in large buildings – this technology was deployed before electricity was even available in cities.

Today, over 130 years later, there are still millions of pneumatic thermostats still in use, including in 70% of hospitals in the U.S. However, compared to modern digital thermostats, these legacy units are incapable of executing basic energy savings strategies, and cannot report occupant discomfort or mechanical faults. Hospitals using pneumatic stats use 20-30% more energy and experience more patient hot/cold calls.

Facility managers in virtually every hospital would like to replace the old stats with modern DDC stats, but the cost and disruption to patients and operations are prohibitive. Conventional approaches require opening walls and ceilings, replacing pneumatic tubes and actuators, running power and signal wires etc.