For the third year in a row, NAS Whidbey Island has received the Platinum Level of Achievement award from the Secretary of the Navy for its outstanding energy program and exceptional energy project execution.

Chris Taylor, Energy and Utilities Program Manager and Jeff Hrovat, Resource Efficiency Manager, both Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest personnel who work here at NAS Whidbey Island were very pleased by the recognition for themselves and the base.

“We’re one of only eight shore bases in the Navy to achieve the Platinum Level of Achievement,” said Taylor.

“It’s the third year in a row,” said Hrovat. “It a great honor for the base.”

The Secretary of the Navy has made energy and water conservation and environmental stewardship very high priorities, setting specific goals for energy reduction across the Navy. The award affirms that NAS Whidbey Island is on the right track, leading this effort alongside the other bases in the Northwest that are also actively engaged in getting “greener” with a broad scope of projects.

One of the projects that attributed to the installation’s success this year was conversion of steam heat to natural gas-powered infrared (IR) heat in Haviland Hangar. Hangars 6, 8 and 10 also have IR heating now. What’s unique about Haviland Hangar is that energy conservation was built into the recent MILCON renovation so that the heat automatically turns off when the hangar doors open.

The base has also taken on renewable energy projects that bring daylight into hangar bays with skylights and improved lighting fixtures to reduce the overall lighting requirements in the recently completed indoor plane wash facility and Hangar 8 and Hangar 11.

And on the water conservation front, resident Sailors changed out the existing shower heads and faucets in the barracks, replacing them with low flow water efficient shower heads and faucets and saving 11.5 million gallons of water a year.

Other projects cited in the award package included smart utility meters, lighting upgrades and occupancy sensors, improvement to building heating and cooling, and high-efficiency bearing-less compressors. Even pilots on the airfield may notice the airfield lighting is slightly different as energy efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are now being used on and around the flight lines and runways.

“Saving energy allows the Navy to be more efficient in its mission and contributes to our stewardship of the Earth,” said Taylor, adding that efficiency means spending tax dollars wisely. Overall, projects executed during 2009 are estimated to save the base more than $700,000 a year in utility costs.

Capt. Jay Johnston, Commanding Officer, NAS Whidbey Island, will join Taylor and Hrovat, October 6 in Washington, D.C. to accept the award at the Navy Memorial.