Energy conservation programs throughout the Navy fleet have resulted in $99 million in fuel savings this fiscal year alone, according to figures released by Naval Sea Systems Command.

Incentivized Energy Conservation, or i-ENCON, is a voluntary program aimed at implementing "smart steaming" techniques for ships that reduce fuel consumption.

"This isn’t about turning off the lights," says Alan Baribeau, spokeman for the Naval Sea Systems Command. "It’s about finding smarter ways to navigate the ships."

Maintaining a clean hull and propeller, avoiding currents and bad weather as well as following preventive maintenance guidelines are all ways Baribeau says the Navy ships can conserve energy.

Due to operational circumstances, not all ships can participate in the voluntary program, he said

Implemented fleetwide in 1999, i-ENCON has resulted in $837 million in savings, according to Navy officials.

About 120 ships are participating in the program, whose combined fuel savings for fiscal 2009 are enough to support 21 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (at an average of 2,500 underway hours) for a year, Baribeau said.

Last year 64 ships participated.

Ships in the program can earn cash awards for their morale and recreation fund from Naval Surface Forces Command, he said.