Energy Action Month concluded at Naval Base Guam (NBG) and Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) Guam with outreach events that promoted energy conservation and raised awareness of renewable energy projects.

"By educating the community about the various new technologies available such as light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances, we are encouraging them to reduce the energy they consume and at the same time save money," said NBG Installation Energy Manager Karl Dreikorn.

Dreikorn said the NBG team has been actively pursuing energy projects targeted at various facilities on base that are designed to meet the secretary of the Navy's energy goal, which mandates 50 percent of the installation's energy consumption be derived from clean alternative energy sources by 2020.

For example, this included changing lights in various buildings at NBG to LED lights. Part of this large project was completed in October, where 23 buildings on NBG were retrofitted with the new LEDs. Dreikorn said this will enable savings of about $26,000 annually. These buildings include NBG Navy Exchange (NEX) Guam, NEX Home Center, the fire station, Visitors Control Center, and the Navy Federal Credit Union building.

"We are moving forward in executing more energy projects on NBG," said Dreikorn. "If you look at it from a 'One-Guam' approach, by reducing our energy consumption and completing renewable energy projects it benefits the military and the island as a whole."

In addition, Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division (FEAD) Construction Management Engineer Ensign Joshua Collins said he is actively working on a renewable energy project which will install energy-efficient LED lights in 24 buildings. The estimated savings is anticipated to be at least $10,000 annually.

"Energy savings initiatives are a major priority for the Navy and the federal government as a whole," said Collins. "We are in the upswing now of more energy savings projects. We have a very ambitious goal, and I think we can meet it."

Elsewhere on NBG, a $7.5 million contract was awarded recently by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas to install variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for base facilities. This will replace old and non-energy efficient HVAC units throughout the installation with new, high-performance technology and high energy-efficient systems. The HVAC installation projects are expected to save more than 3.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.

Meanwhile, renewable energy projects executed and completed on AAFB included the installation of new chillers in two buildings which resulted in 50 percent energy reduction; and lighting upgrades for 45 buildings where energy-efficient LED light bulbs were installed.

"When the military consumes less energy on island, there is less of a demand on the power system," said Joint Region Marianas and NAVFAC Marianas Regional Energy Program Manager Desiree Masterson.

Less demand helps us to do our part in better stabilizing the island-wide power generation grid, Masterson said.

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