NAVFAC Hawaii Conducts Office Energy Study to Reduce Power Use

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii is monitoring 90 smart surge protectors and 100 occupancy sensors throughout the command's headquarters building, as part of a multi-month long energy demonstration project, which will continue through Environmental Awareness Month in April.

"This action is to collect data on energy plug load usage in an effort to promote energy consciousness and reduce energy consumption in an office style workplace," said Amy Hanada NAVFAC Hawaii energy team manager.

"It is believed the demonstration will show how a low-cost smart electronic device will help the Navy control excess energy use, especially during non-business hours when equipment may be inadvertently left on," added Hanada.

The pilot project was initiated in November 2012. Building A4 was selected by the energy team as a representative office facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) complete with work spaces, break rooms and kitchens. As part of the demonstration, all power drawing equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, water fountains, refrigerators and other pluggable electronics in the building were to be analyzed.

"This initiative was to reduce energy consumption in building A4 by 5 percent overall," said Hanada. "Preliminary data indicates that we will reach this goal."

The energy team and contractor National Renewable Laboratories (NREL) identified 689 plug loads and 11 electrical panels. Panel meters were installed into electrical panels throughout the building to collect baseline data for energy usage. These meters collected data wirelessly and transmitted it to the contractor.

In mid-February the NREL team returned to building A4 and installed additional equipment including sub-meters, Advanced Power Converters (APCs), or smart surge protectors, and occupancy sensors to collect actual work space data and compare it to the initial baseline information already gathered.

The contractor team revisited the building in mid-March and used the collected data to implement a power schedule for occupant APCs. The APC strips were configured as needed for each individual user based on their work schedule. This scheduling can reap significant energy savings since the power strips have the capability to de-energize during evenings and weekends while the plugged-in devices are least used but could be still be pulling small amounts of power.

"Although energy savings as a result of this pilot project in this particular building may be minimal since personnel were already following energy reduction directions; if implemented throughout the JBPHH, the Navy's savings could be huge," said Hanada. "In the long-term, this study will educate other building occupants about their energy consumption and provide an inexpensive solution on how to reduce and conserve energy."

The NREL team is scheduled to return to the building the first week of May to obtain feedback from personnel on their APCs schedules. A report on the pilot project and the amount of energy saved will be provided to the NAVFAC Hawaii energy team in summer 2013.

"These smart APCs retail for approximately $20 from various sources and would be great for personal use," said Hanada. "They are easy to program and will help reduce energy consumption and power bills for all of the electronic equipment plugged in throughout your home."

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.