Resident Energy Conservation Program to Launch Navy-wide

From Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Commander, Navy Installations Command will expand the scope of the Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) for Public Private Venture (PPV) housing in the U.S. in phases beginning in October 2012.

RECP transfers the responsibility for payment of utilities from the PPV project to the residents, consistent with OSD policy. Research indicates that residents use less when their rent does not include utilities.

In 1998, OSD established policy requiring the transfer of responsibility for the payment of utilities from our PPV project owner to the residents. RECP was created to promote the responsible use of energy in Navy/Marine Corps PPV housing. RECP focuses on utility conservation efforts to reduce electricity and gas usage in PPV housing.

In January 2011 the RECP pilot program transferred responsibility for payment of utilities to residents living in PPV housing in Hawaii and in Marine Corps Housing at Parris Island and Beaufort, S.C. The pilot program reduced electricity usage by almost 10 percent and generated savings in excess of $1M to reinvest into the PPV housing project to fund reserve accounts used to sustain the financial health of the projects.

"RECP was a great success in Hawaii and Beaufort because our service members and their families increased their awareness of their electricity use resulting in conservation of energy without sacrificing comfort," said Corky Vazquez, CNIC Housing Program manager. "When we reduce our energy consumption, we save money. The money we save will be reinvested into the housing communities in which our Sailors and their families live. These funds will be used to improve the homes and neighborhoods."

The RECP methodology works like this: like type groups of homes are metered and their utility usage is measured monthly (water excluded) to develop an average usage. A buffer of 10% is applied above and below the average to create an average usage band - residents with usage above the band for their like type group pay and those under will receive a rebate. The program starts with a communication phase followed by a mock "trial" billing period that prepares residents for "live billing."

The schedule for the RECP Navy-wide rollout will be in phases depending upon whether meters are in place and the project is ready to implement. During 2013 all PPV projects will start live billing. The tentative roll out schedule for live billing is shown by Region of the country as follows (check with the local housing office for more details):

* New Orleans: January 2013

* Northwest, Midwest, Southeast: April 2013

* Southwest: July 2013

* Mid-Atlantic and Northeast: October 2013

For more specific information about when the RECP will roll out for a specific installation contact your local Navy housing office; a master list of all Navy installation housing offices is available at www.cnic.navy.mil/housing.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus laid out five aggressive energy goals in October 2009 to improve our energy security and efficiency, increase our energy independence, and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy. This initiative assists in achieving the energy goal of increasing alternative energy afloat and ashore where by 2020, the Department of the Navy (DON) will produce at least 50 percent of shore-based energy requirements from alternative sources and 50 percent of DON installations will be net-zero.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit Navy.mil/local/cni/.