YOKOSUKA, Japan—Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East earned 2014 Secretary of the Navy Energy and Water Management Gold Level Achievement awards at two installations and Blue Level at eight others, the Navy announced Oct. 21.
The Gold Level awards, for very good to outstanding programs, went to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan and Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan where NAVFAC Far East has public works departments.
“The Fleet Activities Sasebo community has a strong history of energy and water conservation. Everyone talks about it and everyone does their part—service members, employees and families alike,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dean Allen, public works officer, PWD Sasebo. “We have reduced our energy consumption by 15 percent in the last year and water consumption by 3% in the last two years. These efforts--combined with some recent energy project commissions—have buoyed our recognition at the Gold Level of Achievement for four successive years now and we are well on our way to Platinum Level as soon as next year.”
Allen says PWD Sasebo has some "game changing" initiatives commencing next year, including a steam decentralization project and a direct digital control upgrade. Also scheduled in the next three years is a three Megawatt wind turbine project at a remote support site and photovoltaic panel installations tied to power grids which will collectively improve renewable energy generation and peak loading capacity. "We expect to see net zero energy consumption at some of our annexes as early as 2018," he said.
“Fleet Activities Yokosuka is always looking for areas to improve our program and I expect future years to be no different with several projects nearing completion and more energy and water projects on the way,” said Cmdr. Ben Miller, public works officer, PWD Yokosuka. “The recognition received throughout the entire Far East area of responsibility – to include Japan, Korea, Singapore and Diego Garcia – while striving to exceed the conservation standards set by our leadership is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our employees and supported commands.”
The Blue Level Awards, for a well-rounded program, went to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Fleet Activities Chinhae, Korea, Fleet Activities Okinawa, Japan, Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, the Singapore Area Coordinator, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, and Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.
“I am tremendously proud of the NAVFAC Far East Team,” said NAVFAC Far East Executive Officer Capt. Nicholas Merry. “This recognition was a team effort that shows how seriously we take our responsibility to lead the Navy's shore establishment in achieving the Secretary of the Navy's energy goals.”