The U.S. Air Force hospital at Aviano Air Base in northern Italy has received the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating for energy efficiency, base officials said.

The hospital is believed to be the first overseas organization of any type to receive the prize, base officials said.

The hospital received the recognition on its third try, and is the third Air Force hospital to qualify, spokesman Lt. Brian Wagner said.

Energy-saving measures included cutting back on some common area lighting, ensuring lights were shut off after work hours, altering indoor temperatures, from 73.4 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, and from 69 F to 68 F in winter. The facility also spent $458,000 to replace 21 air conditioning and heating units for more efficient ones.

Energy consumption was cut by 25 percent at the Aviano medical complex, which includes several buildings over an 8-square-mile area.

Migrated