By Chris Taylor
NAS Installation Energy Manager

The Tenant Energy Efficiency Program was recently developed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station to reduce energy costs at the command level. Its main goals are to decrease base utility costs by 10 percent, foster a “culture of efficiency” and leave each tenant’s facility better than before.

The program also helps train sailors on how to be more energy efficient. The program involves the major operational commands (tenants) on base, who collectively use about 75 percent of the base’s energy. There is a competition among these tenants, using a scorecard that the building managers fill out and return to the energy management office every month.

Commands are scored each month on how much energy they have saved versus the previous year and also in participation in the program, including their adoption of energy efficient best practices. At the end of every quarter, a winner is chosen based on the most energy reduction scores achieved that quarter.
The winning command is presented with a trophy and flag, and is also given a reward for their hard work and effort. During the spring and summer of fiscal year 2014, there were 10 commands involved in the “beta” testing phase of the program. Maritime Patrol Squadron 69 (VP-69) won the competition among beta testing participants.

The squadron was not only upgraded with energy efficient appliances, but it continues to turn off lights when their spaces are not in use and shut down computers after the day has ended. One of the biggest changes they made was to stand up a Green Team to help educate sailors on the Navy’s energy awareness program.

The program expanded base-wide in fiscal year 2015 to the largest 20 tenants.