JACKSONVILLE -- To save money and give patients a more comfortable stay, Passavant Area Hospital will make $2.3 million in infrastructure improvements that are expected to pay for themselves in 61/2 years.

The project officially will begin Thursday and be completed by February, said Phillip Benz, Passavant's director of plant engineering and environmental services.

Improvements will include upgrades to the hospital's lighting, electrical-distribution, air conditioning, heating and temperature- control systems, he said.

"It will not disrupt care," he said.

In the end, he said patients and employees at the 93-bed hospital -- parts of which were built in 1950 -- should feel more comfortable and not too hot or too cold.

Patients still will be able to use thermostats to adjust the temperature in their rooms, but the heating and cooling systems will become more efficient and effective, Benz said.

Passavant is working with Trane, a business of New Jersey-based Ingersoll-Rand Co., on the project. Trane designed the project and estimated that the improvements would save more than $313,000 annually in energy and other operating costs.

A news release from Trane said Passavant's power consumption would be reduced by 19 percent.

This is not the only improvement project under way at Passavant, a not-for-profit hospital. Passavant is in the middle of a $16.7 million expansion of its emergency department.

The first phase of that work is scheduled to be completed in 2010, and the second part is expected to be completed in 2012, Passavant spokeswoman Diana Olinger said.

Dean Olsen can be reached at 788-1543.

- DEAN OLSEN STAFF WRITER dean.olsen@sj-r.com

Originally published by Dean Olsen staff writer.

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