MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Unites States ranks second on the world scale when it pertains to energy consumption, but the Department of the Navy and the commandant of the Marine Corps recently signed off on a reduction plan for base housing.
For Atlantic Marine Corps Communities a mock billing period that started in Nov. and ended Feb. 1 marked the start of the Resident Energy Conservation Programs new billing period.
For families living aboard DON installations paying for electricity or checking the meter outside the home was never a concern, but the RECP program now sends all families on base housing their electric bills.
The program was created to alleviate excess electricity usage through illustrating to service members and their families the actual power consumption per home.
All current residents who finished the mock billing period will now receive real electric bills. For new residents the three month mock billing will be carried out before actual bills are received.
Dixie Lanier-Johnson, strategic marketing manager with Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, stated the bills are calculated for related types of homes so newer homes that are more energy efficient will not be billed at the same rate as older homes.
“There’s a buffer zone for the energy usage,” said Lanier-Johnson “A 10 percent buffer allows people flexibility every month, and can offer incentive. If a person’s home is billed at $100 a month and they fall below the 10 percent buffer, they receive a rebate credit for future use.”
For families who use more electricity than is allowed in the buffer zone, they will be billed for their usage, added Lanier-Johnson.
“The overage will not be completely billed,” said Lanier-Johnson. “If a family consumes outside the buffer they only get billed for how much the overage is and don’t have to pay the whole bill.”
To ensure families do not use too much energy there are a multitude of steps to utilize when attempting to conserve excess consumption. Such as setting the thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting because anything over 70 degrees has the possibility to add more than seven percent to the bill.
Homeowners should also check and change their air filters because clogged filters make heating and cooling systems work harder. Ceiling fans help circulate air when they are set to operate in the proper direction. Sealing the windows and doorways can help keep heating and cooling in for the winter and summer months.
The new homes in Midway Park, Knox Landing and Watkins Grove are all Leadership Environmental Energy Design, guaranteeing numerous energy efficient appliances in the homes.
For residents who live on a month-to-month lease basis, re-signing their lease is required due to a change in how paperwork is written because of the new billing, said Lanier-Johnson.
Although residents may live on base they all can play their part to ensure excessive energy consumption is handled, and the RECP program guarantees people know how.
For more information on RECP visit www.atlanticmcc.com or call AMCC housings maintenance at 877-509-2424 for any discrepancies in the home.