• Resident Energy Efficiency Program is estimated to save $621,000 annually. • REEP is currently being implemented across RAF Lakenheath. • Military Family Housing utilities at RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Feltwell cost more than $6 million a year.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - After a three-month trial, the Resident Energy Efficiency Program is estimated to save $600,000 annually on utilities across military family housing units at RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell. The program is an RAF Lakenheath initiative with the potential for implementation across U.S. Air Forces in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch)
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - Chief Master Sgt. Gary Souder, 48th Civil Engineer Squadron chief enlisted manager, checks his family's electricity consumption March 25, 2013. The energy monitor was placed in his home as a part of the Resident Energy Efficiency Program, an initiative that provides people with education and enhanced awareness of their utility usage. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch)
by Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
4/9/2013 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The Resident Energy Efficiency Program is currently being implemented across military family housing at RAF Lakenheath and is slated to be implemented at RAFs Mildenhall and Feltwell following a successful trial phase.
The three-month trial compared REEP participants' utility costs to non-participants' and showed a reduction in energy usage, which if representative of all military family housing in the tri-base area would equal $2.4 million in savings.
While Helen Kenyon, REEP's creator and an East Anglia Regional Housing office housing management assistant, describes initial estimates as a bit high, she believes after accounting for other variables, the program will save more than $600,000 annually, or 10 percent, across military family housing's energy costs.
"It ($2.4 million) is a real number based on the data we have so far, but it's not a realistic number," she said, noting that not everyone would be as actively involved in energy reduction as the trial participants.
REEP finds savings through educating users on energy reduction techniques and enhancing their energy awareness by providing them with energy monitors.
"It's a really interesting and pretty cool program," said Chief Master Sgt. Gary Souder, a REEP trial phase participant and 48th Civil Engineer Squadron chief enlisted manager. "You can see just by flipping on a light or leaving a light on exactly how much electricity you are burning."
"It's just an easy way for you to see how efficient you are or are not," he added.
According to Souder, the impact on day-to-day life is minimal and the payoff is worth the effort to reduce energy consumption.
"I think the Air Force could save a lot of money with this program," he said. "You get a lot of bang back for your buck."
