Keesler Medical Center wins 'Energy Star' award Published Feb. 26, 2013 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler Medical Center has been awarded the Energy Star award by the Environmental Protection Agency. In a message to 81st Medical Group commander Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Kory Cornum, Col. Rex Langston, chief of the health facilities division in the office of the surgeon general, said, "The receipt of an Energy Star serves as recognition that your facility, when compared against other medical facilities across the United States, has distinguished itself by exceptional efforts in energy conservation. "To receive an Energy Star, your facility must earn a 75 out of a possible 100 points. Keesler Medical Center is therefore in the upper 25 percentile of all medical health-care facilities in the United States with a score of 77. Keesler Medical Center is one of only eight recipients across the Air Force Medical Service who have received the 2012 Energy Star. The single largest factor that influences this level of conservation is leadership and behavior modification. It takes 'buy in,' leadership and support from the commander and the executive team. This is a great reflection on the Keesler team." Langston continued, "We would also like to recognize (KMC facility manager) Michael Chatham's able stewardship of Keesler Medical Center. His desire and effort to conserve, coupled with the vision and leadership of your leadership team, have made this award a reality." Commenting on the achievement, Cornum observed, "I could not be happier to be leading our nation's medical centers in the energy arena. This just shows how dedicated the U.S. Air Force and the people of South Mississippi are to making our country better and more prosperous through energy savings." Information about the Energy Star program and criteria for hospitals is available on the web at www.energystar.gov/healthcare.