Memorial Hermann tops list of ASHE energy leaders

ASHE's program recognizes hospitals that have cut energy consumption by 10 percent or more.

The Memorial Hermann health care system, Houston, knows energy efficiency. Of 33 health care facilities recognized by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) for cutting their energy consumption more than 10 percent over a 12-month period, 20 are Memorial Hermann facilities.

In addition, the top three energy savers in the group are part of Memorial Hermann. Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center in Houston reduced energy by 35 percent; and Memorial Hermann Southwest MP2 and Memorial Hermann Southwest MP3, also in Houston, both reduced energy by 30 percent.

Michael Hatton, the health care system's executive of facilities and engineering, says energy-saving strategies started by benchmarking each facility's energy use. Hatton then focused on tuning, repairing and balancing HVAC systems, including reheat; scheduling HVAC and lighting to correspond with occupancy times; and improving building control.

Memorial Hermann im­proved its bottom line by $3.2 million in fiscal 2011, says Hatton. The system has cut nearly $12 million in energy use since it began benchmarking in 2008, he says.

The recognition from ASHE is part of its Energy Efficiency Commitment (E2C) program, which encourages hospitals across the country to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent or more.

Additional information on the program is available at www.ashe.org/e2c/ and a list of E2C winners can be accessed at www.ashe.org/e2c/rec/awards.html.