October is Energy Action Month and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast is putting an emphasis on energy conservation during the month-long observation.

This years theme is Energy Action=Mission Success. The government-wide observance promotes energy awareness and encourages the smart use of energy and water resources.

"Energy is critical to the Department of Navy's ability to accomplish its mission," said NAVFAC Southeast Regional Energy Program Manager Steven Webster. "That mission is to provide the global presence necessary to ensure stability, deter potential adversaries, and present options in times of crisis."

The Navy, in recent months, refined its focus on energy conservation and utilization into three pillars of energy security. Those pillars are reliability, resiliency and efficiency further explained below:

* Reliability: energy systems deliver in a regular and timely manner
* Resiliency: energy systems resist and recover from disturbances, whether they are accidents, terrorist attacks, or weather related
* Efficiency: deliver energy in an efficient and effective manner

The Southeast region continues to implement significant projects that will reduce the amount of energy.

"In fiscal year 2018, 15 major energy saving projects will reach full operations, resulting in savings of more than $6.4 million dollars annually," said Webster.

One energy saving project is underway on board Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Mississippi. There, more than $4 million is being invested in installing new interior lighting, new HVAC controls, new transformers, chilled water system upgrades and water conservation systems that will produce hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual energy savings. A similar project is underway on board Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Both projects are expected to be completed by January 2018.

"The Navy needs the full commitment of every sailor and civilian to perform their duties with the minimum required energy consumption, so energy is available to ensure the Navy mission is delivered," continued Webster. "This includes simple actions like keeping thermostats at prescribed levels, turning off lights, computers, and computer monitors when not required, minimizing the amount of water used and reporting observed energy wastes for immediate repairs."

Naval readiness is strengthened when energy is used efficiently. Every Sailor, Marine and civilian is responsible for using energy efficiently in support of mission success.

"We provide the tools and education through our community outreach programs and our building energy managers," said Webster. "Together, we can all help our supported commanders by using energy efficiently in support of mission success."

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For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.