Asset Publisher

NSA Monterey Strikes Gold in SECNAV’s Energy and Water Management Awards

From left to right, Erik Abbott, Control Systems Engineering Technician; Jayson Womack, Mechanical Engineer; and Mike Manning, Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Controls Technician; monitor utility systems at 27 campus buildings from a cubicle in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Public Works department at Naval Support Activity Monterey (NSAM).

Naval Support Activity Monterey struck “Gold” in the Secretary of the Navy's (SECNAV) Energy and Water Management Awards program. The 2017 Gold level of achievement for the installation, which evaluates the performance during fiscal year 2016, equates to a “very good to outstanding” energy and water conservation program.

According to the installation Energy Manager, NSA Monterey’s population contributed to the award by consuming 24.9 percent less water from the previous year – 14.7 million gallons to 11.1 million gallons.

“The reduction in annual water use during the reporting period is a real tribute to the conservation efforts of all military personnel, civilian staff, and students at NSA Monterey,” said Doug Taber, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Monterey Energy Manager.

Despite an increase in requirements, the installation also used less electricity and gas with a decrease of 2.5 percent from the previous year.  According to Commander, Navy Installations Command, energy bills are the single largest cost for Navy installations, reflecting about 28 percent of the Navy’s shore budget.  By reducing energy and water costs, the Navy is able to free up budget dollars to support training and fleet operations.

“Electricity use at NSA Monterey has been reduced despite increases in computer center data-processing demand and equipment purchases,” Taber added.

A trio of engineers have also made energy savings at NSA Monterey a reality by designing the ability to monitor utility conditions with a glance at a computer screen.

“We can look at 27 buildings in about two hours to locate HVAC and utility system problems rather than sending a technician.  It would take a technician about two weeks to go through that many buildings.  HVAC units are not always easily accessible,” said Jayson Womack, a Mechanical Engineer who monitors the system on two side-by-side computer terminals in the Public Works building.

The engineers have also set heating and cooling on timers, and turn off systems overnight and on weekends.

“We can remotely control and fine-tune building heating and cooling systems for energy savings and increased comfort,” said Erik Abbott, a Control Systems Engineering Technician.

With 14 years of energy reductions, the NSA Monterey energy team is on point to achieve the Secretary of the Navy’s goal of 45.9 percent energy reduction by 2020.

“Since the baseline year of 2003, we have reduced energy by 37.8 percent,” Taber said.  

To put it into perspective how much energy is used at the installation, imagine the 220,000 square-foot Spanagel Hall that consumes some 137,000-kilowatt hours of electricity per month.  The average home uses about 300-kilowatt hours per month.

“Spanagel Hall consumes about the same amount of energy as 457 homes,” Womack said.  “That’s why we have to turn off the lights at night.”

Achieving energy and water reductions takes all-hands to help achieve the SECNAV’s Gold rating.
“Meeting overall goals is due largely to individual decisions and actions like turning off office lights and computer peripherals at the end of the day,” Taber added. “Using automatic sleep-mode settings for screens and photocopiers is helpful every day of the year.”

Other energy and water-saving choices for all personnel include turning off unnecessary equipment when leaving a room, repairing and maintaining office equipment, keeping facility doors closed when air conditioning is running, decreasing water use at facilities, and reporting inoperative equipment or water leaks, Taber added.

All water leaks, defective lighting, or inoperative heating and cooling equipment can be reported to the NSA Monterey Public Works Department “Trouble Desk” at extension 2526 (or (831) 656-2526).

To further enhance energy and water savings at the base, two major energy/water projects are scheduled for 2018.  Included is an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) to update building automation systems in three major buildings, conversion to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting inside and/or outside of 88 buildings, and installation of latest-generation plumbing fixtures and water-conservation devices at 61 buildings.

Also during 2018, building automation controls improvements and HVAC system modifications at two additional facilities will increase overall energy efficiency and permit greater use of Monterey’s cool outside air to replace the use of mechanically driven air-conditioning equipment, Taber said.

“There is an ongoing series of planned actions in the years beyond 2018 to keep us at the forefront of sustainability,” Taber added.

To learn more about the Navy’s energy and water savings efforts, visit the website:  http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/energy/.

bookmarks move script

Current Headlines Sidebar
Asset Publisher

empty content

 

Media contact box

MEDIA CONTACT
 

Office of University Communications
1 University Circle
Monterey, CA 93943
(831) 656-1068
https://nps.edu/office-of-university-communications
pao@nps.edu