Base housing prepares to implement new utility conservation program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Corvias Military Living, the Air Force's housing partner at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, recently installed electric and gas meters to houses on the installation.

The meters are the first step of a new utility conservation program that is being implemented at every military installation in the country.

Established by the Department of Defense, the new energy conservation initiative is aimed at supporting the Air Force's goals for environmental sustainability and encourages good stewardship of the nation's resources. It is designed to bring awareness to base housing residents about energy conservation.

According to Sharon Shores, Corvias Military Living program manager at Seymour Johnson AFB, the meters will help resident's monitor their energy output and hopefully encourage them to carefully observe their energy consumption.

"This program will lead to service members and families becoming more aware of their energy consumption," she said. "Not only will it help conserve energy across military installations, but families will also have the opportunity to contribute to their base's energy conservation."

Eventually, after a series of test phases, the program will begin charging for excess utility usage.

The first test phase, which will last at least 12 months, is intended to collect data for each house's average utility usage. Once the data is compiled, it will be used to determine the average energy consumption, or 'utility allowance'.

Following the first phase, a six-month 'mock' statement period will begin. During this second phase, each resident will be issued utility statements based on the amount of energy the household consumes throughout the month.

Karen Orwin, Corvias Military Living communications specialist, explained that the second phase was incorporated in order to help residents transition to the new program.
"This time can be crucial to each family," Orwin said. "Thanks to this phase, families will be able to compare their energy consumption to their projected utility allowance. "This will allow families to monitor their energy usage and make any necessary changes or adjustments to their energy consumption."

At the conclusion of the second phase, each on-base home will begin the 'actual' statement period and remain in this phase moving forward.

"During this time, one of three things will regularly occur," Orwin explained. "Each family who exceeds their allotted amount will make a payment; those who meet their allotted amount will take no action; however, those who are under their allotted billing allowance will receive a rebate for the difference."

Each Seymour Johnson AFB home is now in the first phase of the program. More information will become available at the start of each new phase. For any additional questions, please contact Corvias Military Living at (919) 988-6920.