ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- APG is working hard to reach the goals set by Executive Order 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management".
This order set a series of aggressive goals, including goals for improved energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased alternative energy purchases, and improved water conservation.
Achieving these goals requires APG to look beyond appropriated funds to further accomplish its energy objectives. One of APG's best opportunities to retrofit the energy systems needed to achieve the Executive Order and legal requirements is through increased use of private government-wide Energy Savings Performance Contracting, a program administered by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program.
An ESPC is a partnership between an energy services company and its customer formed for the purpose of financing and implementing cost-saving energy efficiency improvements. The energy services company pays the up-front cost to purchase and install new equipment. The customer repays the ESCO over the life of the contract from the cost savings resulting from the project. These partnerships have been in use by public and private customers for over twenty years and have been proven to be an effective method for upgrading existing facilities.
APG has partnered with Johnson Controls in developing ESPC projects in order to make improvements to its facilities. A team comprised of APG, Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center, and Johnson Controls personnel has been co-authoring projects through detailed field analysis and interim project development workshops covering each aspect of the project. This crossfunctional team included engineering, master planning, contracting, financial, and project management representatives. This approach has fostered a unique and interactive process ensuring the project will address key APG goals.
At a recent Energy Summit, Jeff Presgraves, ESPC contracting officer representative, spoke of the three delivery orders that have been completed thus far.
"The first delivery order encompassed improvements to the generation and distribution of central steam at the Southern Cantonment," said Presgraves.
These improvements included the installation of advanced controls and related mechanical modifications to the Southern Cantonment's main steam plants.
"The project also included replacement of failed steam traps in 45 buildings, and repair of steam leaks in portions of the outdoor steam distribution piping," said Presgraves.
He said that delivery orders laid the foundation for the new Building Operations Command Center to properly engage and operate the advanced controls system.
Regarding the energy cost savings measures completed through delivery order two, Presgraves said the project "included improvements to the underground steam heating for troop barracks in the Edgewood area, high efficiency lighting and related controls, and upgraded electrical transformers."
Construction is also complete on the third delivery order which encompasses 12 distinct energy cost savings measures, including more improvements to the steam distribution systems, boiler plant controls upgrades, high efficiency lighting and related controls, upgraded HVAC control systems, HVAC improvements, and space consolidation. Combined, these three delivery orders save APG over $6 million dollars per year, he said.
"The Energy Action Team, JCI, and the Corps are working hard on delivery order five designed to save more energy and more money," said Presgraves. "Through this innovative program, APG will be able to renew or improve critical facility assets and take a significant step towards reducing energy consumption and energy costs."
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