HOUSTON — The Houston Airport Systems’ efforts to improve overall energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts associated with operating its terminals earned them the inaugural “Partner of the Year” award from Texas A&M University’s  Energy Systems Laboratory.

Houston Airports received the award at the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency (CATEE) Conference held in Galveston in December 2015. Each year, the conference recognizes individuals, organizations, or companies that have demonstrated outstanding and unique contributions to clean air through energy efficiency and renewable energy actions or programs.

The award was given for the Houston Airport System’s efforts to contribute to improving the impact of buildings and development on cleaner air and environmental quality for Texas, and especially its urban regions, and for serving as a model for others in their industry.

The Energy Systems Laboratory, part of the Texas A&M University System, has been working with the Houston Airport System staff on numerous projects since January 2014. The energy engineering services have included Continuous Commissioning Assessments for Terminal A at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the main terminal building at William P. Hobby Airport. They also partnered on a study of the low chilled water temperature differential at Hobby Airport — focused on identifying the cause and providing recommended resolutions— as well as the development of a Continuous Commissioning Implementation Plan and a lighting feasibility study at Hobby and Bush Intercontinental.

“This has been a valuable partnership and one that we are honored to represent though this award,” said Bob Barker, the Deputy Director for Capital Projects at Houston Airports. “Working with Energy Systems Laboratory, we have been able to make sure we are operating efficiently as possible while ensuring an elevated level of comfort for our customers. These efforts have helped us reduce costs and impacts to the environment and it all feeds into the Houston Airports’ commitment to become a more sustainable organization.”

Energy Systems Laboratory currently is working on the new FIS West Terminal and Concourse facility and Satellite Central Utilities Plant at Hobby Airport — and implementing all phases of a Continuous Commissioning plan —  which continues the implementation at Bush Intercontinental.