Energy savings equal enhanced readiness for Army Reserve Soldiers

Published Sept. 17, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Shawn Morris
99th Regional Support Command

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command received the Secretary of the Army "Small Group" Energy and Water Management Award during a ceremony Aug. 13 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

The 99th RSC Directorate of Public Works' Energy Team earned the award for fiscal year 2014 accomplishments to include saving $3 million in energy costs and 83,043 million BTUs per year.

"The 99th RSC Energy Team has made rapid progress toward energy sustainability goals due to their collaborative and comprehensive program strategy," according to the award citation. "Their efforts have resulted in securing over $5 million in contracts through the Federal Prison Industries and UNICOR for LED (Light-Emitting Diode) and solar-powered lights; a $2.6 million ECIP (Energy Conservation Investment Program) project for renewable solar energy; and an ESPC (Energy Savings Performance Contract) designed to achieve $57 million in savings over a 21-year period and result in three Net Zero electricity sites."

What this means for the Soldiers who work and train in the Army Reserve Centers and Armed Forces Reserve Centers managed by the 99th RSC DPW is improved environmental conditions that lead directly to enhanced unit training and readiness.

"It's not just about achieving savings, but achieving comfort and quality facilities for the Soldiers ... to utilize the technologies that not only save energy, but improve the quality of a building," said Christine Ploschke, acting chief, 99th RSC Environmental Division and Energy Program, who received the award along with Paul Sayah, deputy director, 99th RSC Directorate of Public Works. "The Soldiers will be able to train more effectively if they're not worrying that the lights are too dim, or the temperature is off, etc."

The 99th RSC's mission is to provide facilities, programs and services to Soldiers, civilians and their families in the 13-state Northeast Region, to support Army readiness, to sustain the All-Volunteer Force and to ensure infrastructure for current and future mission requirements.

The 99th supports Soldier readiness in many ways, such as providing vehicle maintenance at 26 Area Maintenance Support Activities, equipment storage and maintenance at nine Equipment Concentration Sites, administrative support at 14 Regional Personnel Action Center hubs and satellite offices, and training support at more than 250 Reserve Centers located throughout its 13-state region.