Melanie Anderson, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft
Division (NAWCAD) Test and Evaluation (T&E) group energy coordinator, was presented with the NAS Patuxent River Best Building Energy Monitor Award, Feb. 15.

Anderson received the award as part of the Naval District Washington 2015 Energy Biggest Loser competition, which was open to all Pax River tenants.

While her coworkers jokingly teased her about winning a "biggest loser award" the efforts that led up to the honor are serious business.

An environmental scientist in the Atlantic Test Range (ATR) Sustainability Office, Anderson is a member of ATR's Green Team, a core group of people dedicated to developing energy efficiencies and the culture of energy awareness within their division. Anderson then applies those efforts to the NAWCAD-level by participating in the NAWCAD Pax Energy Management Team.

In the role of energy coordinator, a collateral duty for her, it's Anderson's job to support all 29 Building Energy Monitors(BEMs) across 127 NAWCAD T&E group buildings.

"Melanie is a plank holder in the standup of the NAWCAD Pax Energy Management Team, which occurred in April 2013," said Paul Waxman, NAWCAD site energy manager at Pax River. "She coordinates the T&E group BEMs who support all the efforts related to the NAWCAD Facilities and Infrastructure Energy Strategy."

Pleased that a NAWCAD nominee was selected for the award, Waxman said it is, "reflective of the ongoing and maturing partnership with the NAS Patuxent River energy management program."

He further explained Anderson was selected because she provided significant input toward the development of a quarterly BEM checklist and then successfully implemented the checklist process with a completion rate of 97 percent for the third quarter and 92 percent for the fourth quarter, in the inaugural year.

"[The checklist] is basically a yes or no questionnaire, like an audit, that BEMs can use as they're doing their quarterly walkthroughs," Anderson noted. "By answering the questions, they can see how their building is doing in the area of energy consumption."

Anderson also greatly contributed to the BEM Guide, visual training materials that let the BEMs see everything associated with the items on their checklist.

"For example, when you talk about what the ceiling should look like above a window, [the guide shows you] what it should or should not look like," she explained. "It will show what an Energy Star appliance is or a low-flow aerator on a sink. Sometimes, talking about it isn't enough; it's good so see a picture of it, so it's absolutely clear what it is."

Anderson admits the energy management team is in the early stages of fielding these tools and some processes -- like the energy aspects to a building -- are still new.

"We're all learning," she said. "We're all just starting to teach each other what it means to monitor and track energy consumption and identify deficiencies in buildings, put in service tickets for those items, and create energy projects."

Surprised and honored by the award, Anderson was quick to mention everyone else involved with the energy management team.

"It's not something I do, it's something we all do together," she stated. "I'm proud of our efforts. [The award] is great, and I think it shows we're all working on something good, and that it's being valued by being recognized."

Anderson is dedicated to spreading a culture of energy awareness.

"Walk into any of our buildings and you'll find the data posted in common areas for anyone to see," she said. "Some BEMs also send it out electronically. It's part of their task to keep the information in front of people and make it part of the culture."

With the Navy emphasizing energy savings in support of its mission, Anderson reminds us that while many of the efforts are still growing and developing, some are very basic.

"It can be as easy as turning off the lights when you walk out of the building," she said.

For more news from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, visit http://www.navy.mil/.