Naval Base Kitsap received the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management at a ceremony Thursday in Washington, D.C. The award is the highest level of federal agency recognition given in the area of energy and water conservation management, according to NBK.

“These prestigious award honor federal agency energy management teams for their outstanding efforts to promote and improve federal energy management and conservation and demonstrate leadership,” President Barack Obama said.

The President presented seven awards and NBK and Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. were the only Department of Defense organizations recognized. Others included the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, Treasury and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Capt. Mark Olson, NBK’s commanding officer, and members of the base’s energy management team were in the nation’s capital to accept the award.

During the past five years, NBK has completed more than $46 million in energy and water management projects, saving a large amount of energy and $7 million annually. In 2008, it focused on the development and use of renewable energy and alternative fuel projects that saved more than 200,000 gallons of gasoline by using ethanol and biodiesel fuel in government vehicles, according to NBK.

“We’ve been bringing energy awareness and conservation to service members and civilian employees for the past five years and the results are more than we’d hoped for,” Olson said. “Receiving this award indicates that all of our hard work is being recognized and, for that, we are thankful. But the real award is watching military and civilians take ownership for the energy they use.”

NBK has used innovative technology in water management such as turbo chillers, advanced duct sealant and advanced boiler controls.

“We recognize that energy and clean water are not limitless,” Olson said. “It is up to us to teach ourselves and others to conserve our current supply and search for future renewable sources.”