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NUWC Newport Embarks on Major Energy Conservation Project

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100603-03
6/3/2010

From Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Naval Undersea Warfare (NUWC) Newport initiated a major energy conservation project in May to reduce total ownership costs (TOC).

Reducing shore-based energy requirements relates to the Secretary of the Navy's energy goal of securing energy sources from alternate sources.

"Energy is an important part of our efforts to reduce TOC," said Dennis McLaughlin, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Center executive. "Across the Navy, projects like the Naval Air Systems Command's 'Green Hornet' with its goal of changing algae to jet fuel, NAVSEA's Great Green Fleet with its incorporation of hybrid drives, and NUWC Division Keyport's geothermal project are major efforts at changing our consumption of fossil fuels."

"Energy conservation is not new here at NUWC," said Capt. Michael Byman, NUWC Newport commander, "we have conducted periodic reviews and made many improvements in our energy consumption over the past several years. We are not starting from zero, Our electric bill has seen a 30 percent usage reduction over the past decade. But there is more we can do to respond to one of the key themes of the Navy: energy independence and conservation."

In February, NUWC Newport chartered a LEAN Six Sigma review tasked with gathering and analyzing energy consumption data for the command's lab equipment. The event produced a list of energy savings opportunities, executable actions by building and department, and recommendations for execution and sustainment of savings. The event also provided monitoring and follow-up control procedures and an inventory of mission/laboratory equipment. A value stream analysis conducted in January had pointed the examination at mission/lab equipment as well as systems in office and support spaces.

"The goal of the project is to decrease energy consumption overall by 30 percent," said Tom Diamantini, one of the green belts leading the project. "We can add to the prior reductions we have achieved in the hotel (services) side since 2001." With the broadened charter, the scope of the project now covers every building in the entire NUWC enterprise with the exception of those at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center.

"The results will be near-term energy reductions from improved shut down processes and midterm gains from execution of energy-saving infrastructure projects," Diamantini added.

"In the past, we have focused on technological solutions to reducing energy consumption," said Capt. Michael Byman, NUWC Newport commander. "We have not really looked at more manpower intensive options. This effort should let us see the possible impacts of both."

NUWC Newport provides research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures associated with undersea warfare.