Two DLA teams to receive awards for energy management

Photo By Jonathan Stack | Two Defense Logistics Agency teams are being recognized for their efforts to be more energy efficient  

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

08.31.2011

Story by Jonathan Stack 

Defense Logistics Agency   

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Two Defense Logistics Agency teams are being recognized for their efforts to be more energy efficient.

The DLA Energy Demand Response Team and the DLA Installation Support at Columbus, Ohio Energy Management Team have been selected to receive 2011 Federal Energy Management Program awards from the Department of Energy. The two teams will be recognized during Energy Awareness Month at an awards ceremony Oct. 12 and a luncheon Oct. 13 in Washington, D.C.

“DLA's significant progress over the last two years towards changing our understanding and involvement as sustainable stewards of our resources and facilities is evidenced by these two federal awards recognizing DLA's contributions,” said Marv Wenberg, DLA Installation Support deputy director.

DLA Energy’s Demand Response Team is receiving the award for resolving a legal definition issue that now allows Defense Department installations to accept financial incentives for curbing their power use during periods of peak demand or when market prices fluctuate.

As a result, the Demand Response Program Team has agreements for several installations to lower electricity demand below production capacity, according to the nomination packet. The program provides additional power to help avoid rolling blackouts in installations’ communities and a financial incentive for participating installations.

“Demand response is a mechanism used to manage customer consumption of electricity in response to prevailing supply conditions,” said Kevin Ahern, director of DLA Energy’s Installation Energy business unit. “Under a demand response program, participating customers are incentivized to reduce their consumption during periods of peak demand or in response to market prices.”

Ahern said customers who participate in these programs have the option to curtail electricity consumption or use on-site generation to reduce demands on the power grid. These customers are then compensated through credits on their utility bills.

“DLA Energy began supporting customer enrollment in these programs in 2008,” Ahem said. “In just under three years, total credits received by participating customers now exceed $7.6 million.”

DLA Installation Support’s Energy Management Team will be recognized for energy savings that reached record levels in fiscal 2010, according to the nomination packet. Energy consumption was reduced by 7 percent, water consumption was reduced by 6.9 percent, vehicle fuel usage was reduced by 29 percent, and alternate fuels usage was increased by 68 percent versus their levels in fiscal 2009.

Across the agency, personal awareness and efforts to shut off unused equipment, appliances and lights made an instant difference, Wenberg said.

“The benefit when we reduce unnecessary use of energy and water is clear: increased funds and other resources to support DLA's missions,” he said.

• Date Taken: 08.31.2011
• Date Posted: 09.01.2011 08:36
• Story ID: 76289
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US