Overview

Through the great strides NPS has already made in energy use reduction and future plans for continued reduction of energy consumption on the NPS campus, NPS is striving to be a leader in the local community, in the state of California, and on a national level (Department of Defense) in the adoption and practice of sustainable green building and development at a U.S. Navy flagship academic institution.

In striving toward its long-tern goal of operating a sustainable, net-zero energy-use campus, NPS is incorporating many state-of the-art green technologies for reducing energy use, improving energy efficiency, conserving water and natural resources, and generating its own renewable energy. NPS will continue to lead the way among DoD and Government institutions and serve as an role model in the local community through its abundant use of green technologies and innovative energy efficiency initiatives.

Why Go Green?

It just makes sense. Going green promotes an approach to social responsibility and global sustainability and addresses human and environmental health through sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Why Build Green Schools or Have a Green Campus?

Green schools are healthy for the entire academic population: students, faculty, staff and the environment. Built right, green schools are more productive learning environments with ample natural light, high-quality acoustics and safe air to breathe. Schools everywhere are going green, nurturing and encouraging learning while saving schools money.
Good green designs address issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment. By addressing the uniqueness of NPS buildings and spaces, overall and individual needs, ‘green’ building achieves measurable results: high-performance, improved learning and studying environments that are cost-effective.

Can You Transform Already Built Structures to More Green Spaces?

Yes, carefully planned upgrades, both large and small scale, using the latest green technologies can transform existing structures to more green spaces. It is equally important to transform built structures/environments for improved sustainability. The Department of Defense is transforming existing structures into more ‘green’ structures.

1. Lighting Upgrades: Over 4500 light fixtures will be upgraded with high efficiency lighting technologies.

2. Advanced Lighting Controls: Installation of advanced occupancy sensors and day lighting sensors to reduce energy when lighting is not essential.

3. Street and Parking Lot Lighting: Exterior lighting will be replaced with high efficiency LED or Induction bulbs, not only significantly reducing energy use, but improving light quality (100% white light) and significantly reducing light pollution.

4. Non-potable water irrigation system: Currently, approximately 99% of irrigation watering on the main campus and the golf course is done through non-potable water from Lake Del Monte.

5. Installation of a Summer Boiler at the Boiler Plant: This boiler will provide high-efficiency steam generation during times of low load. Our two new 20,000 lb boilers provide high efficiency steam generation during times when high steam load is required, but operate inefficiently when only providing a small load.

6. Additional Steam System Upgrades: Includes replacing failed steam traps, replacing condensate return units, reinsulating steam and condensate return systems and installing steam meters on all major buildings.

7. GEM Vehicles on Campus: NPS has a fleet of ten Global Electric Motorcars (GEMs) it operates for transportation around the main campus. PWD Monterey is also in the process of researching alternatives to their gasoline vehicles, pursuing the possibility of becoming a Navy pilot site to test alternatively fueled vehicles.

8. Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) Upgrades: Buildings 700, 702, and 704 will get automated controls for their heating and air conditioning systems including air handling units, chillers, boilers, pumps, heat exchangers and reheat coils (over 135 points of control in building 702 and over 225 in building 700). EMCS systems have been shown to significantly reduce building energy use by automating controls and ensuring HVAC systems work in coordination with each to operate efficiently. These are three of the biggest energy-use buildings on base.

9. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects: PWD Monterey has two projects starting in late 2009 at NPS that were funded by ARRA for energy improvements.

    a. Photovoltaic (PV) panels: Replacement of roof systems and installation of Photovoltaic (PV) panels on Knox Library, Halligan Hall and Watkins Hall. The total power generation from these systems will be approximately 200KW (or enough to run about 66 average U.S. homes.)

    b. Advanced Electrical and Water meters: Will be installed in the main buildings on base. The key to controlling energy use and improving energy efficiency is in knowing how much energy you're using and where you're using it. These meters will provide that information real-time, as they will be readable through a wireless network.

10. P-197, Ingersoll Expansion Building: Through this project, NPS will build a new, 12,000 SF facility, housing modern classrooms for the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy (GSBPP). Through aggressive, energy efficient design, this building will be certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council, the first LEED certified building on NPS Campus!

11. Extension of NPS non-potable water system for irrigation to Navy Annex (FNMOC): The campus water reuse system will extend to the outlying areas at Navy Annex which are still using potable water. By combining a non-potable system with xeroscaping alternatives, water use will be reduced to ensure landscaping does not require precious treated, potable water.

12. Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) at FNMOC: The major requirement for air conditioning load for the Naval Support Activity Monterey is at FNMOC, a 24-hour operation that requires significant cooling for their computer server rooms. GSHPs are a way of using the constant temperature of the ground as a heat sink (or heat source, depending on the operation of the system,) that essentially eliminates the need to run expensive, energy-hungry A/C compressors.

13. Photovoltaic Array at FNMOC: The space and conditions exist at FNMOC for a PV array that provides approximately 1MW of power under ideal conditions. This would nearly eliminate the need for purchase of Utility-produced electricity at Navy Annex in lieu of clean, renewable solar energy.

14. Computer Power Management Software: NPS is exploring the option of installing Computer Power Management Software which would ensure that all non-essential computers are turned off in the evening and on weekends when they're not in use. This program would go a long way toward reaching Federally-mandated energy efficiency goals as it is suspected that the majority of the school's 3000+ computers are left on all the time.

15. Low and Zero VOC Paint Use at NPS: NPS has a goal of using only low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint. Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. With new environmental regulations and consumer demand, low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes have been developed. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.

In What Additional Ways Are We Setting ‘Green’ Examples to the Community?

Campus-wide recycling program

Recycling bins across campus, indoors and outdoors

Campus outreach and education

Improved event planning to reduce global impact of campus events

MST partnership

Carpool parking privileges

Bike-to-Work Week/Alternative Commute Week with incentives and prizes

Earth Day celebrations

Community Energy Fairs