ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Illinois (Nov. 6, 2015) -- This heating season is the beginning of a transitional year for Rock Island Arsenal. The trusty 100 year old central heating plant and steam distribution system have put in their papers for partial retirement starting this year. We are very grateful for all the personnel of the central steam plant and all who have worked there to make it so reliable to keep us cozy and warm when it gets so cold outside. This will be the last heating season for the coal fired steam plant. In May 2016, the final puff of smoke going up the stacks, and the last steam generation going to the radiators will come to an end.
The new whippersnapper natural gas heating systems have come to town, and they are eager to show us their stuff which stated this October. The new natural gas heating systems are not all the same. Some buildings will be heated primarily by natural gas infrared heaters that are located in the ceiling area, and the heaters will be projecting their heat down to the floor. Other buildings will have high efficiency natural gas condensing hot water boilers or conventional natural gas steam boilers located in either new or existing mechanical rooms. In some heated spaces you could see high efficiency condensing natural gas unit heaters or conventional natural gas unit heaters. Other small offices and restroom areas might be heated by simple electric heating systems.
So why did we do all this? It was to save energy and money, meet energy reduction goals, and to keep the Environmental Protection Agency happy. The de-centralization decision was recommended after the installation was surveyed to determine if the installation should remain centralized or be de-centralized. Well, they determined it was best for the Army to de-centralize the heating system, and that's what is going on.
In order to get this done, three Energy Savings Performance Contracts task orders were put in place to provide these improvements. The first two ESPC contract task orders were initiated by RIA-Joint Manufacturing Technology Center for their building heat and manufacturing processes. This winter all of the JMTC buildings behind the fenced area will be off the central steam plant, and they be heated by natural gas. The Garrison followed with another ESPC task order to complete the de-centralization process. Not all the de-centralization work was done by ESPC task orders. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, assisted by converting five buildings to natural gas. We will continue to have even more natural gas lines installed underground to get the gas to the new heating systems until the de-centralization process is completed.
Oh, by the way, we can't forget what our utility, Mid-American Energy, did for us. When you change all these buildings to use natural gas heating systems, you need to make sure you have enough natural gas. In October, Mid-American Energy finished upgrading the natural gas supply pipe to increase its size to make sure we will have enough natural gas for this winter and even more for future installation needs.
So, what buildings are now being heated by the new natural gas heating systems this winter? In the factory area it is the following buildings: 208, 210, 211, 212, 220, 222, 230, 240, 250, and 299. For the Garrison it is these buildings: 90, 106, 108, 109, 110, 114, 131, 132, 139, 140, 159, and 225. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed natural gas heating systems in buildings 112, 144, 145, 154, and 299 for use this winter.
Next summer will continue to be busy with more construction because the remaining buildings that are still on the central heating plant will be converted to natural gas for the following heating season. Those buildings will be: 56, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 72, 73, 75, 102, 103, 104, 107, 350, 351, 360 and 390.
If there are issues with your new and more energy efficient heating systems, call the work order desk at 309-782-2387. Happy heating!
Related Links:
Army Energy and Water Management Program
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