Paul Hlawatsch, energy manager with the Directorate of Public Works at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria-Hohenfels, receives the Secretary of the Army Energy and Water Management Individual Award for Energy Efficiency / Energy Management from the Honorable ...
HOHENFELS, Germany -- Paul Hlawatsch works for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria-Hohenfels. He's the energy manager for the Directorate of Public Works and was recently awarded with the Secretary of the Army Energy and Water Management Individual Award for Energy Efficiency/ Energy Management.
The annual awards -- which were presented at a ceremony last month in Phoenix, Arizona -- are designed to recognize the energy and water conservation achievements and programs of individuals, small groups, and garrisons.
The award is aimed at providing incentive to further reduce energy and water consumption.
"Paul Hlawatsch's achievement highlights the ongoing commitment of USAG Bavaria to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and funnel those costs savings into programs that support our Soldiers," said Col. Mark Colbrook, USAG Bavaria commander.
Hlawatsch helped develop and implement seven effective low and no cost energy conservation measures in fiscal year 2014, with a combined annual savings of $426,000.
These ranged from simple measures such as stocking energy saving lamps at the warehouse shop and self-help facility, to scheduling heater shutdowns on German-American holidays and the installation of high efficiency heat pumps in 50 buildings.
Hohenfels also sought to raise energy conservation awareness throughout the year with banners, flyers and training for building energy monitors.
"The better we are doing with energy conservation, the more funds are available for the troops and the mission," Hlawatsch said.
But it's not just about money. Hlawatsch sees energy conservation as vital to the environment and to the legacy that we leave our children and our future.
"Energy conservation is really about a mindset," Hlawatsch said. "It's a change of small behaviors that can really add up."
While Hlawatsch appreciated the recognition, he said the projects implemented last year are just part of the larger program currently underway at Hohenfels.
His pet project is a generator which operates on natural gas. The generator will not only provide heat, but simultaneously produce up to 30 percent of Hohenfels's on post energy requirements.
The new generator is projected to come online December 2015. Even then, Hlawatsch won't be satisfied.
"I won't leave this installation before there is wind power installed," he vowed.
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