NAVFAC Southeast Contract to Help Marines Save Energy, Money

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $5.2 million utility energy services contract (UESC) June 30, to TECO Peoples Gas Energy Systems Group, LLC for energy improvements to facilities at U.S. Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island.

The improvements will save the installation nearly $497,000 annually.

"We recognize that as residents of the Jacksonville community, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island has a responsibility to do our part to conserve energy," said Blount Island base commander Col. Steven Peters. "This project puts us on the path to meet the goals of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Campaign Plan, increases our use of renewable energy, and reduces energy to meet executive order goals."

Projects under the UESC will include high efficiency lighting retrofits; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements; controls upgrades, motor upgrades, transformer replacements, metering, compressed air system repairs, insulation, and solar hot-water and geothermal energy systems.

"We are always looking ahead to find ways to conserve energy," said NAVFAC Southeast energy program manager Brad Clark. "When the analysis was complete we found many buildings that could use upgrades to conserve energy."

Thirteen facilities and five non-facility areas will see some type of energy saving improvements.

Solar hot water panels are to be installed on Building 100 to augment its existing electric water heating system.

Solar powered (photovoltaic) systems include solar powered water circulators in two retention ponds to maintain proper oxygen levels. Solar powered car charging systems will be installed at Buildings 350, 351, 390 and 450 to relieve 44 electric vehicles from the utility system.

Geothermal energy systems work will include replacing building 450 cooling equipment with a water-cooled chiller and water-source heat pump. Ground-source heat pumps and new air handling units will replace existing heating and cooling equipment in Building 150.

"The Department of Defense (DoD) has imposed strict guidance to reduce consumption," claims Clark.

The DoD has mandated that electric and natural gas consumption be reduced at least 30 percent by 2015. In addition, executive order (EO) 13514 was signed in 2009 by the President which intensifies the energy savings requirements even more.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps has provided a campaign plan called, "Ten by '10 -- Top ten things to do by 2010 to reduce USMC Energy Risks."

Construction on the UESC Phase II projects for Blount Island will begin in August and is expected to be completed during the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, approximately June 2012.