Parkland recognized for third consecutive year for sustainability efforts
‘This is testament to what’s possible when healthcare and sustainability go hand in hand.’
Parkland Health has been nationally recognized with two 2025 Energy to Care Awards from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). These awards honor hospitals that are setting the standard for energy efficiency, proving that healthcare facilities can deliver high-quality care for patients while supporting a healthy environment.
For the third consecutive year, ASHE is recognizing Parkland — this time with both the Sustained Performance Award and the Sustainability Champions Award.
The Sustained Performance Award recognizes hospitals accomplishing sustainability goals to support healthy, equitable and resilient environments and communities maintained over time. The Sustainability Champions Award recognizes facilities that demonstrate leadership in healthcare sustainability.
For both awards, the facilities must be an ENERGY STAR certified hospital and have a score of 75 or above. ENERGY STAR certification, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognizes buildings that perform in the top 25% nationwide for energy efficiency. Currently, Parkland Memorial Hospital maintains a score of 90 and is the largest ENERGY STAR certified healthcare campus in the U.S.
ASHE is a membership group of the American Hospital Association for professionals who design, build, maintain and operate hospitals and other healthcare facilities. It is the country’s largest association of its kind.
This latest recognition highlights Parkland’s ongoing commitment to a more sustainable world that leaves a greener legacy for future generations and better health outcomes for our patients.
“We are incredibly honored that Parkland has been recognized with these two prestigious awards from ASHE,” said Michael Wood, CHFM, CHSP, CHEP, Parkland’s Senior Director of Facilities Support Services. “This recognition is a direct result of our team's unwavering commitment to advancing energy efficiency and environmental stewardship in healthcare. It demonstrates the powerful impact we can achieve when sustainability is embedded into every aspect of patient care.”
The 3.4 million-square-foot Parkland Memorial Hospital campus is the anchor of one of the largest public health systems in the nation, home to a nationally recognized Level I Trauma Center and the only verified burn center in North Texas to treat adult and pediatric patients. At nearly twice the size of the old hospital, the current Parkland, which opened in 2015, was designed to meet the ever-changing demands of a rapidly growing Dallas County.
Parkland has diverted 1,000 tons of materials from landfills through robust recycling, reuse and donation initiatives. In 2024 alone, the hospital reduced the use of the anesthetic gas desflurane by 38%, cutting over 600 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Parkland also achieved a 3% reduction in electricity and natural gas consumption compared to baseline levels and sourced 25% of its total energy from renewable sources.
“At Parkland, we believe that sustainability is a core part of our mission to care for the health and well-being of our community,” said Wood. “By reducing energy consumption, increasing our use of renewable power, and making smarter use of resources, we’re not only lowering our environmental impact—we’re also reinvesting those savings directly back into patient care.”
Parkland has earned a lengthy list of accolades regarding sustainability efforts. Most recently, Parkland won the CleanMed 2025 Sustainability in Action Video Contest for achievements in resilience, climate mitigation, and sustainability. The Joint Commission has also awarded Parkland its Sustainable Healthcare Certification for decarbonization efforts.
Additionally, Parkland’s main campus features six LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified buildings, a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Wood adds that Parkland is well-positioned to build on this year’s momentum, with plans to initiate discussions and research around decarbonizing its vehicle fleet, enhancing its single-stream recycling program, and exploring new opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
To learn more about Parkland’s sustainability efforts, visit www.parklandhealth.org/sustainability. For more information about Parkland services, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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