2014 FEMP award winners recognized, AF leads the way

  • Published
  • By Kevin Elliott
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The U.S. Department of Energy recognized 25 federal agencies as 2014 Federal Energy and Water Management Program Award winners at a ceremony Dec. 9, in Washington D.C.

The FEMP awards recognize the outstanding efforts of federal agencies to improve the nation's energy, water, aviation and vehicle fleet efficiency.  Each winner demonstrated innovative strategies and technologies to significantly reduce fuel, energy or water consumption, increase efficiency and strengthen national security, according to the Department of Energy website.

Through their efforts, leaders serving in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy; the Departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Transportation and Veterans Affairs; the General Services Administration; and the Tennessee Valley Authority saved 4.2 trillion British Thermal Units, or BTUs, of energy, nearly 1.3 billion gallons of water and more than $115.8 million during fiscal 2013. These energy savings alone are equivalent to removing 56,800 cars from the road or eliminating the average energy use of more than 47,000 households annually.

This was a banner year for the Air Force. It won its most FEMP awards ever - eight of the 25 projects or programs selected for consideration. In total, 10 government agencies won awards, including the Navy with four and the Army with one.

"The Air Force is doing great things to save energy, water and money," said AFCEC Director Joe Sciabica. "Work by Airmen, civilians and contractors over the past two decades has created a cost avoidance of $626 million -- money that can be better spent executing the Air Force mission."

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center received 29 nomination packages from across the Air Force and culled them down to 15, the maximum accepted by DOE. Winners were announced earlier this year.

All federal agencies have been mandated by Congress to reduce their energy intensity by 30 percent by 2015 and to procure or produce 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025.To read more about each Air Force FEMP award winner, visit http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/493838/air-force-earns-majority-of-federal-energy-awards.aspx.