Winner announced for being energy savvy

Base Commander Capt(N) Bob Achterlonie, Derek Knudsen, Maj Jim Smith, LCol Matt Johnsen, Tracey Hamm, Cdr Lori McAllister, CPO1 Mike McCallum, and Peter Sinstadt hold up certificates of achievement for the second round of the six-week Operation Conservation campaign.

Rising energy prices, growing financial and energy volatility, and concerns over climate change and its negative impacts have inspired base personnel to participate in the second round of Operation Conservation that began Sept. 5.

This campaign is the second iteration in a series of campaigns to target building occupant habits and awareness, including a focus on reducing vampire power, which is defined as the energy use that occurs during equipment standby mode.

This campaign further develops sustainable behaviour, which is a key element of the MARPAC Sustainable Energy Management Plan and necessary for reducing the $9 million associated with base-wide energy costs.

During the six weeks, participating personnel from BCEO, TEME, and CF Fleet School competed to reduce discretionary energy consumption within their respective units. The units were chosen because the occupied buildings had a similar blend of office/classroom and industrial functions.

While all participants achieved the objectives of the campaign, the CF Fleet School under the coordination of Tracey Hamm, UGSEO, emerged victorious.

Fleet School’s level of engagement and awareness were unparalleled by competing departments and serves as a great example of sustainable behaviour.

Tracey Hamm attributed the Fleet School’s success in this campaign largely to simple measures such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use, especially at the end of the day.  She is encouraged to see these energy-conscious behaviours continue at CFFSE, even though the campaign has ended. 

The challenge is now to sustain these efforts beyond the campaign and hopefully introduce more units in the future to Operation Conservation as well as applying lessons learned from this and the past campaign.

Peter Sinstadt, Real Estate Services