Maintaining a strong U.S. seapower greatly depends on the Department of the Navy reducing its overreliance on fossil fuels and taking positive actions to operate its energy and water resources with maximum effectiveness.
Today, the Department of the Navy recognized six Navy and Marine Corps organizations that have made notable progress toward DoN and federal goals to reduce energy and water consumption at its annual Secretary of the Navy Awards ceremony, held at the U.S. Navy Memorial & Naval Heritage Center, in Washington.
“Energy challenges are everywhere. That’s why the Department of the Navy has a multi-layered approach to energy efficiency, energy security and energy independence,” said BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment and guest speaker. “I’m personally excited about the opportunities ahead for embracing energy and water efficiency…and increased use of renewable energy, and making it mainstream in our operations,” he remarked.
The six commands awarded the SECNAV 2008 Energy and Water Management Award for innovative energy management, successful use of energy, superior awareness and energy conservation principles during FY 2007 included:
Naval Base Ventura County (Pt. Mugu, Calif.) – Navy Large Shore Category
Naval Base Ventura County achieved a 14 percent reduction from their FY 2003 energy baseline. Their projects included HVAC and control system upgrades, daylighting, hangar and warehouse lighting upgrades, and compressor replacements. They also made numerous improvements in water efficiency through water reclamation, smart landscaping, reduced irrigation, xeriscaping and the installation of low-flow spray nozzles at galleys. They implemented $13 million in energy and water efficiency measures that save $1.7 million per year in utility cost.
Naval Base Point Loma (San Diego, Calif.) – Navy Small Shore Category
Naval Base Point Loma has achieved a 25 percent reduction from their FY 2003 baseline. The base combined a strong energy awareness program with projects such as installing a 57.8 kilowatt photovoltaic system and replacing a 20-year-old boiler with microturbines and smaller high efficiency boilers. A focus on locating and repairing water leaks is saving over 20 million gallons of water. A $1 million investment in energy and water initiatives is saving nearly $500,000 annually in utility costs.
NAVSEA Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (Bremerton, Wash.) - Industrial Category
NAVSEA Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility achieved a 13 percent reduction from their FY 2003 baseline. Their projects included installing rapid access cargo doors and replacing single pass water-cooled chillers that support waterfront temporary services. They performed upgrades to exterior lighting, lighting in temporary offices and in the berthing barges that house ship’s force when their ship is in overhaul. A project to convert steam-driven forge hammers to compressed air will significantly reduce the energy required to maintain the temperature of the hammers when not in use. Air movers that exhaust welding smoke from ships in overhaul will be converted from compressed air to electric in most applications. A total investment of nearly $9 million in energy and water saving initiatives is reducing utility cost by $1.7 million per year.
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms Calif. - Marine Corps Category
MCAGCC Twentynine Palms has achieved a 22 percent reduction from their FY 2003 baseline. The combat center supported a well rounded program including a capital investment of $5 million for energy improvements. Focus was on converting several buildings from evaporative cooling to chilled water systems with full Energy Management and Control System packages and extending EMCS to additional buildings. Other projects included upgrading 15 inoperable solar water heating systems, installing lighting and photocell controls and upgrading the EMCS controls for a large chiller. The combined utility cost savings from these initiatives is more than $1 million annually.
USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) - Large Ship Category
USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) saved over 37,446 barrels of fuel in FY 2007 compared to the LHD 1 class average fuel usage. The $3.6 million in fuel savings is attributed to a strong command commitment to energy conservation and senior leadership participation in NAVSEA’s energy conservation seminars and workshops. As an example of command commitment, the commanding officer and executive officer conducted weekly tours through all engineering spaces onboard, assessing methods to improve energy usage. The presence of senior leadership on the deck plates motivated junior personnel to participate in energy awareness and aggressive fuel management practices.
USS NITZE (DDG 94) - Small Ship Category
USS NITZE (DDG 94) saved over 20,500 barrels of fuel in FY 2007 compared to the DDG 51 class average fuel usage, a savings of nearly $2 million. A strong commitment from senior leadership was key to their success, demonstrated by extensive all hands attendance at energy conservation training classes and strict adherence to implementing energy efficiency checklists. While underway, NITZE operates in Fuel Efficient Pitch Mode and consistently exhibits 10 percent fuel savings on average. NITZE routinely monitors equipment to ensure that redundant ship’s systems are left off until they are needed.
The Department of the Navy Energy Program is on target to achieve the federal goals of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and Executive Order 13423 for efficient use of energy and water resources and the increased use of renewable energy sources. The program avoids millions of dollars in annual commodity costs through innovation, investment in energy efficient technologies and increased community awareness and participation.
To achieve its current success, DoN has relied on a comprehensive energy program, with centralized resources and program management operating in partnership with regional and installation level resources and implementation. As a result of energy program initiatives worldwide, DON is avoiding $400 million annually in energy costs, adjusted for inflation, compared to expenditures in 1985
For more information, visit the Department of the Navy Energy Program at https://energy.navy.mil/.