Air Force Medical Service goes green and receives top energy award

  • Published
  • By Jon Stock
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Air Force Medical Service was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Partner of the Year award March 26, in Washington, D.C. for Air Force-wide efforts to reduce energy consumption in medical facilities by 10 percent, saving an estimated $3.3 million in taxpayer dollars.

The Air Force Medical Support Agency Health Facilities Division received the top energy-management award for their efforts throughout the AFMS at more than 75 military treatment facilities with an estimated 17 million square feet of health care space.

The AFMS is proud to be among 117 other recipients throughout the country that won the prestigious award for their energy management.

"This recognition from the EPA shows that our AFMS energy program is on the right track," said Col. Rex Langston, the chief of the AFMS Health Facilities Division. "From here, we will continue our push to be a leader in energy efficiency."

In 2008, the AFMS received their first Energy Star award for an MTF. Energy Star awards are given for facilities that are in the top 25th percentile in energy efficiency for their facility type. This requires not just efficient buildings, but dedication and direction from MTF leadership and support from the staff.

"Last year, we had seven MTFs receive an Energy Star," Langston said. "We certainly want to continue to increase our Energy Star certified buildings, and with the continued support of our AFMS leadership, we will do just that."

"The AFMS is really a leader in energy efficiency in the medical community," Langston added. "We see this award as recognition of the work we collectively have done and a challenge to strive for even more successes in the future."

Introduced in 1992, the Energy Star program promoted the development of energy-efficient products and programs for people to be aware of their energy management. Today, through partnerships with 18,000 organizations, the program is helping consumers and businesses make energy-efficient choices as organizations and people across the country have saved more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.