ASHE named ENERGY STAR Partner for third consecutive year

The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) was recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy for its work in helping hospitals improve their energy efficiency.

ASHE was presented with the 2019 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 11. This is the third consecutive year ASHE has earned the partner recognition. The Sustained Excellence designation is given to organizations that have already received ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for a minimum of two consecutive years and have gone above and beyond the criteria needed to qualify.

“I applaud the 2019 ENERGY STAR Award Winners,” says Bill Wehrum, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation. “Their innovation and leadership enhance America’s economic competitiveness. Reducing costly energy waste improves air quality and public health while protecting the environment.”

Much of ASHE’s success in helping to create sustainable health care facility operations has come through its Energy to Care program. The program uses challenges, awards, hosted programs and publications to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability, while helping hospitals track energy use, become more efficient and redirect energy savings toward patient care.

Some of its recent wins include:

• Hospitals in the Energy to Care program have saved more than $396 million in collective energy savings.
• More hospitals are making the commitment to energy efficiency. In 2014, 239 facilities participated in Energy to Care. Today, more than 3,460 facilities are participating.
• More hospitals are reducing energy use quickly. For example, 68 hospitals reduced consumption by 10 percent in a single year and earned a 2018 Energy to Care Award — an increase of 30 percent from the year before.
• More hospitals are reaching major efficiency accomplishments. The number of health care facilities in ASHE’s Energy to Care Program with ENERGY STAR scores of 75 or more increased from 110 in 2010 to 399 in 2018.

“Receiving this award for a third consecutive year recognizes the ongoing dedication that our members have shown toward the goal of creating more efficient health care facilities,” says ASHE Interim Executive Director Dale Woodin. “We are excited to build on our previous success and support hospitals and health systems advance affordability in health care.”