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NRNW Commands Awarded for Energy Conservation Management
Story Number: NNS091103-01
Release Date: 11/3/2009 12:31:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Dagendesh
Navy Public Affairs Support Element Det., Northwest
SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval commands in the Pacific Northwest received Navy and federal-level awards for energy and water management, including the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management during awards ceremonies held Oct. 27 through 29 in Washington, D.C.
Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) received the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management. The award is the highest level of federal agency recognition given in the area of energy and water conservation management.
On hand to receive the award were NBK Commanding Officer, Capt. Mark Olson and members of the NBK-Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) team who represent energy conservation efforts within numerous Naval Base Kitsap tenant commands.
Over the past five years, NBK has completed more than $46 million in energy and water management projects resulting in 862,000 MBTU of energy savings and $7 million in annual savings. Team efforts in 2008 focused on development and use of renewable energy and alternative fuel projects and resulted in saving more than 200,000 gallons of gasoline by using E85 ethanol and B20 bio-diesel fuel in government vehicles.
"We've been bringing energy awareness and conservation to service members and civilian employees for the past five years, and the results are more than we'd hoped for. Receiving this award indicates that all of our hard work is being recognized, and for that we are thankful. But the real reward is watching military and civilians take ownership for the energy they use," Olson said.
According to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest Public Affairs and Protocol Officer Leslie Yuenger, every installation in the Northwest region earned either a Secretary of the Navy Energy and Water Management Award for 2008 Accomplishments or a Federal (Government-wide) Energy and Water Management Award for 2008 Accomplishments.
Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bremerton was selected the SECNAV's best, worldwide in class, large shore facility for their partnership project with the BPA. The Navy, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and BPA team at Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport was selected best, worldwide in class, industrial facility. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton both received the SECNAV's platinum award. Naval Station Everett and Naval Magazine Indian Island received the gold award.
NBK Bremerton and NBK Bangor received the Federal (Government-wide) Energy and Water Management Awards for energy program management to a small group, and Chris Drury, Navy Region Northwest Energy Program manager received the Exceptional Service Award.
At the Naval Energy Forum in McLean, Va., earlier this month Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus said he was committing "the Navy and Marine Corps to meet bold ambitious goals."
"Leading change is not new for the Department of the Navy," said Mabus. "We are a better Navy and a better Marine Corps for innovation. We have led the world in the adoption of new energy strategies in the past. This is our legacy."
According to Yuenger, $90,000 in total awards funding will go directly to the installation commanding officers to spend on quality of life and morale projects or for additional energy conservation measures.
The program, which began in 2003, is expected last through 2015. Many programs have been put into place to conserve energy such as reminders placed inside barracks for military.
"We still use wide-spread education awareness and conservation programs that we launched several years ago," said Yuenger. "This is our way of educating people about energy usage and how to better conserve it or use it more efficiently."
"We recognize that energy and clean water are not limitless. It is up to us to teach ourselves and others to conserve our current supply, and search for future renewable sources," said Olson.
According to Olson, the results of focusing on energy awareness and conservation for the last five years has been even more than hoped for and credits the individuals on his installations for their dedication to duty.
"We have a great, forward-thinking energy team at NBK. Many of our members, who are from our tenant commands, provide solid support toward the base-wide energy conservation efforts. Our team is not about awards; they're all about making a difference and contributing toward a better planet via more efficient energy programs," said Olson.
For more news from Navy Region Northwest, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnrnw.
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