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Naval Academy Saves $6.8 Million in Energy Costs

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110916-08
9/16/2011

By Jessica Clark, U.S. Naval Academy Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- Annapolis public works department responded to the Navy's increased focus on energy conservation with initiatives that saved $6.8 million in utility costs in the 2010 fiscal year, more than 20 percent of the annual bill for both installations.

These initiatives include installing geothermal systems for heating and cooling in several buildings hosting computer data centers, designing efficient LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction projects, and instilling a culture of energy conservation of all Naval Academy employees and Midshipmen.

"Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus recently addressed energy leaders at the National Clean Energy Summit 4.0 in Las Vegas, and he was very clear that energy efficiency was a priority for the U.S. Navy," said Vice Adm. Michael M. Miller, Naval Academy superintendent.
"We're taking that challenge head on."

Utilities Director Tim Rath, along with Energy Manager Chi Chiu and Production Division Director Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Lampert led the various projects that have produced these significant savings.

All new construction projects at the academy and NSA Annapolis must meet LEED certification standards, said Lampert.

"Those have built-in renewable, energy efficiency and sustainable construction requirements that lead to the construction of an energy-responsible building," he said.

The newly renovated King Hall galley is a candidate for LEED Silver certification based on its energy efficiency. The new galley replaces steam with natural gas, which is more efficient and less costly, said Rath. The department monitors 100 percent of the energy use in each building and compares that to how much the building should be consuming, based on its construction and efficiency factors. If the building appears to be using more than it should, they conduct an energy audit to determine the cause.

Even the simplest projects such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and balancing air conditioning and heating systems can make a difference in energy savings, said Rath.

The most obvious benefit to conserving energy is reducing costs. "Money you don't spend on energy, you can spend in the fleet," said Rath. "There is also a big focus on being good stewards of the environment," said Lampert.

"A large part of energy efficiency and being a good steward is the culture and being aware," he said. "We do a lot of coordination with the Naval Academy through the building managers that results in big savings. Changing the culture is probably one of top things you can do to create that cost-savings."

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus laid out five aggressive energy goals in October 2009 to improve energy security and efficiency, increase our energy independence, and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy. This initiative assists in achieving the energy goal of increasing alternative energy afloat and ashore where by 2020, the Department of the Navy (DON) will produce at least 50 percent of shore-based energy requirements from alternative sources and 50 percent of DON installations will be net-zero.