North Carolina National Guard maintenance shop features green design

By U.S. Army Environmental CommandMarch 31, 2009

Inside the green maintenance shop
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – In addition to supporting the hazardous and waste materials management for its units in five counties, the field maintenance shop services and supports over 600 pieces of rolling stock, which represents 75 percent of all the NCARNG units' equipment. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Green Shop
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The newly opened field maintenance shop was designed to meet the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Small Commercial Buildings program standards. Its features include a geothermal heating and cooling system, water-reducing facilities, occupancy s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

LENOIR, N.C. - A green-design maintenance shop highlights the pollution prevention program of the North Carolina Army National Guard (NCARNG).

The NCARNG Pollution Prevention (P2) Team's efforts to make its field maintenance shop as green as possible while maintaining more than 500 pieces of equipment that come through the facility each year sets it apart in North Carolina and in the region in terms of environmental excellence.

The newly opened maintenance shop was designed to meet the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Small Commercial Buildings program standards using the organization's Energy-10TM software. The shop's features include a geothermal heating and cooling system, water reducing facilities, occupancy sensor lighting systems and tank-less water heaters. "The P2 Team's commitment to environmental quality and stewardship has helped to cement the NCARNG's reputation as an environmental leader and good neighbor," said Sgt. 1st Class Todd Lingerfelt, facility manager.

The P2 Team's primary mission is the maintenance and rehabilitation of rolling stock, communications and electronics equipment as well as weapons systems integral to the NCARNG's training mission. The team also provides units with hazardous material management, recycling and compliance training programs.

The team's attention to Soldier training helps to foster improved environmental practices and awareness throughout the NCARNG organization and in Soldiers' communities. Quality program management techniques are key to the team's success. The team contributed to the achievement of several program milestones, including the opening of a new, green facility for equipment rehabilitation and servicing, significant reductions in both hazardous and universal waste, the implementation of new training and material inventory programs and ongoing compliance excellence in the environmental performance assessment system.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for the Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, Tad Davis, recognized the NCARNG for having the Army's most outstanding pollution prevention team effort in fiscal year 2008. This award is part of the Secretary's annual Environmental Awards Program and represents the highest honor in the field of environmental science conferred by the Army.

"The Army is committed to protecting the environment at installations here and overseas," said Davis. "In fact, as the winners of our environmental awards demonstrate, the Army is getting more and more sophisticated in its use of environmental technology and sustainable practices. We're becoming a greener shade of green."

An independent panel of judges made up of professionals from federal, state and Army organizations recommended the NCARNG for the Secretary of the Army environmental award. "During the last two years, the NCARNG P2 Team has successfully managed a new facility for equipment rehabilitation and servicing, achieved significant reductions in hazardous and universal wastes, developed new training and material inventory programs and adopted the "gel-cell" battery, among other pollution prevention activities," said Rachel Dagovitz, Secretary of the Army environmental award judge. "The program is an exemplary operation with best practices that can be easily adopted at other Army facilities."

The NCARNG P2 Team will go on to compete for the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards this year.

For details about the fiscal year 2008 Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards recipients visit the U.S. Army Environmental Command's awards page at <a href="http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/awards00.html">http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/awards00.html</a>.

This information is provided by the <a href="http://www.aec.army.mil">U.S. Army Environmental Command</a>. USAEC is the Army's point organization for supporting the implementation of environmental programs that facilitate sustainable Army training and operations while protecting the environment. We provide environmental program management and technical support products and services in support of Army training operations, acquisition and sound stewardship.

<center>"Sustaining the Environment for a Secure Future"</center>"

Related Links:

U.S. Army Environmental Command

STORY: Environmental, Sustainability Award Winners Announced

North Carolina National Guard