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Navy Exchange System Does Its Part to Protect the Environment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100417-19
4/17/2010

By Kristine M. Sturkie, Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Navy Exchange Command (NEXCOM)'s initiatives to protect the environment and conserve energy are having a positive impact on the bottom line, a NEXCOM official said.

"NEXCOM's strategy to help the environment is very much aligned with the Navy's strategy and theme "Partnering for a Greener Future," said Rear Admiral Steven J. Romano, Commander, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). "It is our responsibility to ensure that all our locations protect the environment, conserve energy and save money. Every dollar we save is more money that can be given to Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) to support Sailors' quality of life."

NEXCOM's headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va., is doing its part to protect the environment in a variety of ways. Over the past year, NEXCOM's advertising department has created a digital sales flyer which is available on its website, www.myNavyExchange.com. During 2009, printed sales flyers were reduced by 13 percent, saving the command over $1 million in printing and postage costs and helping the environment by reducing the number of trees needed for its production.

In 2010, NEXCOM is planning another four percent reduction in printed sales flyers. While the need for printed sales flyers hasn't been eliminated, those that are printed are done so on recycled paper. NEXCOM has also started to use social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to enhance its marketing efforts to further reduce the need for paper, fossil fuels along with the postage expense.

NEXCOM also recently revamped its NEX Gift card to make it more environmentally friendly. NEX Gift cards are now made from BIOPVC™, a compound that ultimately biodegrades in nine months to five years, when in contact with an environment (typical waste stream) that allows microorganisms to begin the breakdown process.

To help reduce the amount of plastic bags, NEXs offer the 4RPLANETBAG made of 100 percent recyclable fabrics and is 100 percent carbon neutral. The bag comes in two styles: Eagle everyday grocery bag for $1.99 and the Penguin thermal insulated bag for $3.49.

NEXCOM buyers look to purchase products that help customers save energy and money and protect the environment. Customers will find a wide variety of Energy Star rated appliances and TVs as well as CFL light bulbs, eco-friendly home storage solutions, glass cooking bowls, bamboo cutting boards, water filtration systems, air purification systems and rechargeable batteries.

NEXCOM's vending operations are also doing its part to save energy. Currently, over 3,800 energy misers have been installed on cold beverage vending machines. Energy misers use a motion sensor to power down a vending machine when the surrounding area is unoccupied and automatically re-powers the vending machine when the area is reoccupied or to ensure product within the machine is cold. The energy misers are capable of reducing energy consumed by about one-third, saving about $100 per vending machine per year (depending upon local Kilowatt per hour rate). NEXCOM vending has also moved forward to include changing out florescent tubes in glass front snack machines with energy efficient tubes. NEXCOM's vending team attends the vending industry's annual trade show to observe new technology, offering innovative ideas related to energy conservation. In addition, NEXCOM beverage contract solicitations include wording that vending machines be energy star rated or equipped with a miser of equivalent to support Navy's policy on energy conservation.

NEXCOM also continues to open alternative fuel facilities in its effort to help the Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy meet its objective of reducing the reliance on petroleum and meet the requirements of Executive Order 13423. Currently, alternative fuel is offered at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va.; Quarters K, Arlington, Va.; Naval Surface Warfare Division, Crane, Ind.; Naval Weapons Station Charleston, SC; Naval Academy Annapolis, Md.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; and NEX Everett and Whidbey Island, Wash. Compressed natural gas is offered at the Quarters K gas station as well as Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

NEX Autoports or auto service centers ensure that used oil and antifreeze, old tires and replaced oil and air filters get recycled instead of being thrown in the landfill. In 2009, NEX Autoports recycled approximately 243,000 quarts of used oil, 11,000 gallons of antifreeze, 14,000 old batteries and 72,000 tires.

One of the less visible ways NEXCOM is saving money is by changing lighting in existing buildings and incorporating energy efficient materials in new and renovated locations. "Going forward, NEXCOM is meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards of "silver" certification for all new construction and also for major renovation and expansion of existing facilities," said Harry "Mickey" Smith, NEXCOM's Energy Manager. "The benefits of implementing a LEED strategy range from improving air and water quality to reducing solid waste, benefiting owners, occupiers and society as a whole."

NEXCOM's distribution centers also have worked to reduce energy consumption by replacing its high intensity discharge fixtures with six fluorescent tube hi-bay fixtures that have a higher lamp life for half the cost. Additionally, NEX facilities, mini-marts and NEXCOM headquarters have been retrofitted with similar energy savings retrofit equipment. As a result of these energy initiatives over the past four years, NEXCOM is saving over seven million kilowatt-hours per year, which translates to $796,000.

"We estimate that once all our energy savings initiatives are completed, annual operating savings for existing facilities will surpass $1 million per year every year from that point forward," said Smith.

NEXCOM and its vendor partner Guest Services, Inc., recently renovated two cafés at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., incorporating an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way to significantly decrease the impact of its carbon footprint and meet the "green" criteria for school and hospital renovations. The renovation at Main Street Café, a 200-seat food court-style eatery, started with the recycling of over 57 tons of sheetrock, cinderblock, wood and metal. The new millwork is formaldehyde-free and was installed using low-VIC adhesives; countertops were fabricated from sustainable material; laminates were 100 percent GreenGuard™ certified; and all appliances are Energy Star-rated. The renovation took recycling one step further by retaining and re-using the current table bases instead of replacing the entire table. In other carbon footprint reducing measures, the Main Street Café uses produce from local farmers, features Rainforest Blend organic coffee beverages and utilizes recyclable disposables and green biodegradable cleaning supplies.

The Ship's Store Program is testing an ozone washing machine for use aboard ship in an effort to save energy and cut down on the amount of chemicals used in shipboard laundries. It is also investigating ventless dryers aboard ships to improve safety and possibly create an energy savings. In addition, ships' laundries have eliminated the use of plastic bags to return laundry to Sailors. In the ship's store, customers receive either paper bags or may use their own reusable bags for their purchases, not plastic bags.

The Navy Lodge Program has several programs in place that emphasize the importance of water and energy conservation. The Good Earthkeeping Program gives guests the option of reusing their towels during their stay, the Energy Management Program is designed to reduce energy cost while the Laundry Management Program works on reducing water usage and chemical use in the laundry operations. The potential for savings is great since water consumption for in-house laundry is reduced, as are energy costs and chemical use. Navy Lodges are also installing energy efficient light fixtures and light bulbs and motion detection light switches in all public restrooms and storage rooms. The installation of an energy management system to control heat and air conditioning in unoccupied guest rooms has resulted in a 35 percent savings in electricity usage. Each Navy Lodge room has also had low flow water faucets and shower heads installed to save on water consumption. To show its commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment, Navy Lodges Norfolk, Little Creek – Fort Story and Oceana – Dam Neck, Va.; Mayport, Fla.; and New London, Conn., have earned LEED Green certifications from their state's Environmental Departments.

Finally, as part of each Naval installation, NEXs worldwide also participate in various recycling and environmental protection programs. Base clean up efforts, tree planting initiatives and education programs are just part of what NEXs do to support the Navy, its customers and the community to help protect the environment.