CNRSE highlights Energy Action Month
Navy shore installations play a critical role in promoting readiness, generating the force structure for mission success and enabling combat operations. Energy Action Month is the perfect time to reinforce the role energy security and conservation have in toward ensuring mission success.
Energy Action Month is a Federal government-wide program that promotes sustainability and energy efficiency, while encouraging the smart use of energy, water, and transportation resources. Energy Action Month is designed to increase attention to energy use, and to develop energy efficient behaviors that will continue throughout the year.
Energy is critical to the Department of the Navy’s ability to accomplish its mission – to provide the global presence necessary to ensure stability, deter potential adversaries, and present options in times of crisis.
“As we continue in our efforts to provide resilient, reliable and efficient energy to our shore installations, I urge everyone to remember how critical energy conservation is to our operational forces,” Steven Webster, Navy Region Southeast energy manager, said. “Energy is a limited commodity and every gallon of fuel or kilowatt hour of electricity we save is more that is available to enable the mission.”
Commander, Navy Region Southeast strives to reduce energy usage across its 18 installations and dozens more, smaller facilities. Utility costs continue to be the number one fixed expenditure each year with around $95 million paid to provide electric and gas to our shore-based commands.
Navy Region Southeast continues to lead the way on energy initiatives with several commands and individuals receiving Federal and Navy-wide recognition this year. Naval Support Activity Mid-South received the Secretary of the Navy Energy Award for small shore installation – only one small and one large installation are presented this award each year. Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and NAS Pensacola each received a Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) award. Corpus Christi earned their recognition for their longterm actions to reduce potable water consumption by 63 percent. Pensacola was honored for initiating an energy savings project which will result in annual savings of $2.9 million.
NAS Pensacola’s installation energy manager, Sabrina Williams was honored with the FEMP Spotlight Award for her efforts to reduce the command’s energy intensity by more than
11 percent during the last four years. Naval Facilities and Engineering Command Southeast’s regional energy program manager, Brad Clark, received the Career Exceptional Service Award
for his 35-year career leading energy conservation projects including more than $300 million in solar energy initiatives, which generate more than 200 megawatts of energy.
Navy Region Southeast also awarded the Navy’s largest ever energy savings performance contract at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay this year. The $340 million contract will construct a new liquid natural gas power plant aboard the installation that will reduce energy consumption at the base by an estimated 24 percent. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay awarded a utilities energy services contract in the past year that is expected to result in more than 5 percent annual energy savings. Additionally, five solar power systems have gone on-line in the past 12 months producing more than 100 megawatts of energy.
Despite these impressive accomplishments at the installation level, Sailors and civilian personnel continue to be in unique positions to push for the Navy to achieve its federally-mandated reductions by using energy and water wisely in daily operations. Individual efforts can make a substantial difference in energy and water consumption, and help every command carry out its mission in a more sustainable way. Here are a few tips for reducing energy consumption within facilities.
1) Turn computer monitors off at night and during the day when they aren’t being used for extended periods of time.
2) Get in the habit of turning off lights when you leave a room.
3) Take advantage of daylight instead of artificial lighting, but avoid direct sunlight
4. When weather permits, open windows to take the place of air conditioning. Turn off window air conditioners when leaving a room for several hours.
5) Use task lighting when you need lighting in one small area and then reduce background or ambient light levels.
6) If you specify or order energy-using equipment, follow the law. Federal purchasers are required to order equipment that meets Energy Star or Federal Energy Management Program guidelines for energy efficiency.
7) Take short showers.
8) Report lights left on when they are not needed to your base energy team. Automatic controls or a different type of lighting system may fix the problem.
9) Always keep doors and windows closed when the heat or air conditioning is on.
10) Make sure sleep mode features are enabled on all office equipment.
The Department of Energy has some additional tips and suggestions for use in the home at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/spring-and-summer-energy-saving-tips.
All Sailors are encouraged to use Energy Action Month as an opportunity to recommit to living and leading an energy-efficient lifestyle and strive to save energy, water and money every day.
However, these actions should not extend only through the month. True energy-efficient behaviors should be sustained year-round.
Energy and utility efficiency is an all-hands effort. Not only is it an integral part of contributing to the Navy’s mission effectiveness, but it will help conserve the world’s resources for future generations.
For more information about Navy Region Southeast, visit www.cnic.navy.mil/cnrse, or visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NavyRegionSE.