SD National Guard employee earns Sec. of the Army award for exceptional energy management

Courtesy Photo | The South Dakota Army National Guard’s energy manager, Michael Haltiner, received the 2017 Secretary of the Army Energy Award under the category of Individual Exceptional Performance at the Federal Energy Exchange Conference in Tampa, Florida, Aug. 17, 2017.  

TAMPA, FL, UNITED STATES

08.24.2017

Courtesy Story

South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs   

The South Dakota Army National Guard’s energy manager, Michael Haltiner, received the 2017 Secretary of the Army Energy Award under the category of Individual Exceptional Performance at the Federal Energy Exchange Conference in Tampa, Florida, Aug. 17.

Haltiner, who started leading energy conservation for the SDARNG in 2009, has completed numerous projects impacting energy reduction levels in South Dakota.

“Mr. Haltiner leads our energy conservation efforts and is personally involved in all projects as well as monitoring energy consumption for our facilities on a monthly basis,” said Col. Scott Petrik, construction and facilities management officer. “His efforts over the years have consistently made South Dakota one the nation’s top performer’s in energy conservation.”

Projects include passive heating solar walls, automated controls and lighting, motion sensors, redesign and replacement of HVAC and boiler systems and LED lighting. These projects have resulted in annual energy savings of $248,931, resulting in more than one million dollars in savings to date.

Haltiner is always involved in the design process of the SDARNG’s sustainability-focused buildings.

“The federal government is the largest U.S. consumer of energy,” Petrik said. “The president published an executive order mandating a 30 percent energy consumption reduction over a 10-year period. The South Dakota Army National Guard was one of two states in the nation to meet the requirements of the presidential executive order.”

In addition to energy savings, energy conservation efforts has brought additional funding for energy projects to the SDARNG.

“Two years ago we received $120 thousand for energy projects; this year we received over $500 thousand,” Petrik said.

The National Guard Bureau rewards states for meeting the presidential executive order energy conservation requirements.

“Knowing that energy conservation is saving money to spend on Soldier training and helping our organization maintain its readiness, along with saving our natural resources, is the most rewarding part of the job,” Haltiner said.

Haltiner said a number of factors are responsible for the energy conservation success the SDARNG has from energy consumption awareness to support from leadership.

“We’ve made incredible progress over the years I‘ve been working for the South Dakota Army National Guard,” he said. “It’s an all-around team effort and I want to thank the SDARNG team for helping make this award possible.”

• Date Taken: 08.24.2017
• Date Posted: 09.12.2017 17:48
• Story ID: 247991
• Location: TAMPA, FL, US