Resident Energy Conservation
Effective 1 Oct 2012, the Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) buffer will change from 20% to 10% above and below the average monthly usage of Like-Type Groups. This change was approved by Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and will apply to all RECPs being implemented throughout the Department of the Navy. Contact (808) 474-1823 for more information.
Tips on Saving Energy from Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (16 Dec 2010)
BACKGROUND
In 1998, in conjunction with its Public Private Venture (PPV) partners, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) set forth the policy (see below) for the payment of utilities in PPV housing to encourage energy efficiency in privatized housing units. The RECP represents the Department of the Navy's (DON) next step in establishing an energy conservation program in PPV housing consistent with OSD policy. The program is in alignment with the Department of Defense (DoD) and DON's energy conservation initiatives to reduce dependence on foreign oil, other fossil fuels, and overuse of electricity.
Historically, PPV residents consume more energy than their military or civilian counterparts living in the same community. These excess energy costs negatively impact PPV projects over the long-term by reducing available capital which would ultimately be reinvested back into the PPV community, allowing improvements to the property such as renovations and community amenities.
A pilot RECP was conducted from Jan-Dec 2011 at Navy Region Hawaii's PPV homes. Also participating in the pilot were two United States Marine Corps PPV projects at Kaneohe, Hawaii and Beaufort-Paris, North Carolina. The pilot was a huge success and as a result, CNIC announced that RECP will be rolled out to the rest of the DON's PPV housing beginning in October 2012. The rollout mandated that all RECPs will use a 10% buffer above and below the average monthly electricity usage by PPV residents, and the 20% buffer currently applied to local Ohana Military Communities - Navy (OMC) electric bills will be adjusted to 10% in October 2012.
The Navy and Marine Corps pilot RECPs saw electricity consumption decrease by approximately 10% as residents became more aware of their usage and adjusted their behavior to earn rebates and avoid payments. CNIC determined that utilizing a 10% buffer will increase conservation by creating more resident awareness of their utility usage.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The RECP transferred responsibility for electricity consumption from the PPV partner to the PPV resident. The program is designed to set a reasonable range for normal electricity consumption in PPV housing units. Here are the basic steps:
- OMC establishes "like-type" groups of PPV homes within each of its neighborhoods based on size, number of bedrooms, and year built.
- Each month, OMC calculates a monthly usage average for each group of homes.
- OMC currently adds a 20% buffer above and below the monthly usage average which results in a normal usage band. The buffers are added to account for variances in the homes and family demographics. The buffer will change to 10% in October 2012.
- Residents are required to pay for excess electricity consumption that is above the normal usage band. Residents whose consumption falls below the normal usage band will receive a credit or rebate. Residents within the normal usage band will neither pay nor receive a credit.
- Residents receive a monthly bill showing their month's consumption as compared to the monthly usage average and the normal usage band, along with the money owed or credited.
