NAF Misawa shatters CNFJ energy conservation goal

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Lisa Reese | A Navy Misawa sailor turns off a computer tower before departing work for the evening, June 10, 2013. In an effort to conserve energy, all NAF Misawa personnel are working together to help conserve energy on board this northern-Japan located U.S. naval installation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lisa Reese /Released)  

MISAWA, AICHI, JAPAN

06.13.2013

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lisa Reese 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

NAVAL AIR FACILITY MISAWA, Japan – Naval Air Facility Misawa Public Works Department reported, June 13, 2013, that the command has far exceeded the installation-level energy conservation goals established by Commander, Navy Region Japan.

"The changes we've made in our consumption of energy at NAF Misawa benefits this installation in many ways," said Lt. Dustin Glazier, NAF Misawa Public Works officer. "Starting in March, we originally wanted to reduce our energy consumption for the rest of the year by at least $35,000. However, within the first two months we ended up saving over $100,000, which is about 300 percent of our initial goal."

"We made this happen by doing two things," said Glazier, a native of Eugene, Ore. "Since winter heating accounts for 80 percent of our energy usage here, we immediately had the maximum heating temperatures set to no more than 66 degrees [Fahrenheit], and air conditioners set to no higher than 80 degrees [Fahrenheit] in the summer. The second step we took was to instruct personnel to self govern. We asked them to take steps to conserve energy within their work spaces."

Additionally, NAF Misawa was able to conserve energy by consolidating some of their barracks facilities.

Chief Culinary Specialist Proceso Canlas, Naval Air Facility Supply Department leading chief petty officer, said the command decided to move Navy Misawa sailors together into one barracks building. By consolidating Navy Misawa personnel into one complex, this enabled NAF Misawa Supply personnel to put one of their barracks and one of their Navy Gateway Inns and Suites buildings into contingency status. While in this status, the structures require minimal heating and electricity use.

"We're not actively using these buildings, but they are also not shut down completely,” said Canlas, who originally is from Manila, Philippines. “Occasionally, we will have additional squadrons deploy to Misawa, so if needed, we can quickly have the buildings prepared for whatever use may come up in the future."

“But for now, we have all our forward-deployed personnel in one building which makes it easier for us to manage, and less costly in the long run.”

Navy Misawa sailors also played a large part in exceeding NAF Misawa’s energy goals. Through their self-governance, they were able to rapidly achieve significant levels of energy efficiency, mainly by ensuring lights were turned on only when needed, and computers and printers were shut down at the conclusion of the work day.

So as the weeks passed by, it became apparent to installation leadership that Navy Misawa personnel were actively doing their part to ease back their electrical usage.

According to Construction Electrician 2nd Class Andrew Perryman, NAVFAC Far East Detachment’s installation energy manager, the installation’s usage of electricity, water and steam are tracked each week. If there appears to be an increased trend or influx of certain utilities, Public Works Department personnel work with the respective Building Managers to look for ways to reduce usage, while still ensuring that the installation’s mission is not negatively impacted.

Perryman says he is encouraged by NAF Misawa personnel’s enthusiasm toward energy conservation, and is proud that Misawa is leading the way within Navy Region Japan.

"It feels great to see how much we've accomplished in such a short period of time," said Perryman, who originally hails from Winston-Salem, N.C. "The changes, overall, might seem insignificant, but in the bigger scheme of things we've conserved more energy and saved more money than initially projected. I think all Navy Misawa personnel should feel good about the impact they have already made, and will continue to make in the future.”

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.

• Date Taken: 06.13.2013
• Date Posted: 06.13.2013 02:54
• Story ID: 108573
• Location: MISAWA, AICHI, JP
• Hometown: MANILA, PH
• Hometown: EUGENE, OR, US
• Hometown: WINSTON-SALEM, NC, US