Members of the Memorial Hermann engineering services and energy management teams were in Washington D.C. to receive the 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award. Photo: Memorial HermannPhoto By Memorial Hermann  Members of the Memorial Hermann engineering services and energy management teams were in Washington D.C. to receive the 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Memorial Hermann Health System for the third consecutive year as a 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award for its continued commitment to managing and improving energy efficiency across its network of facilities. Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital is one of the eight hospitals in the network.

By outperforming 99 percent of hospitals in the United States these hospitals are members of elite energy-efficient hospitals, according to a news release.

"I applaud Memorial Hermann for earning the EPA's highest Energy Star award, the 2015 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award," said EPA administrator Gina McCarthy.

Since program inception, Memorial Hermann has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent and has achieved $60 million in energy-cost savings. By improving energy management and reducing energy costs, Memorial Hermann is able to commit those savings to enhance the quality of patient care and capitalize on growth opportunities, said the news release.

"Strategically managing our energy consumption isn't just good for the environment - it also makes good business sense," said Marshall Heins, senior vice president and chief facilities officer at Memorial Hermann. "The benefits of lowering our energy costs allow us to further support our mission to provide greater access to patient care."