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Workshops Bring Army Energy Professionals Together to Discuss Installation Energy & Water Resilience

By Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Energy and Sustainability)August 19, 2019

Army Energy Manager Training Workshop
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability, Mr. J.E. "Jack" Surash, addresses Army energy professionals at the Army Energy Manager Training Workshop in Denver, Colorado. Representatives from U.S. Army Logistics, Head... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

DENVER, Colo. -- (Aug. 19, 2019) -- More than 250 Army Energy Managers, facility energy managers and leadership from Army installations joined those supporting community based Army National Guard and Army Reserve Centers for a variety of workshops at the Colorado Convention Center.

Hosted by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, the purpose of the Army Energy Manager Training Workshop was to bring together Army energy professionals to discuss the latest policies and guidance governing installation energy and water programs, which foster installation energy and water resilience.

The Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability, Mr. J.E. "Jack" Surash, P.E., opened the workshop discussions with a strategic overview and highlighted the importance of energy resilience and efficiency strategies installations can use.

Surash said, "Enabling warfighter readiness begins on our installations," adding that readiness remains the Army's top priority, ensuring the Total Army is ready to deploy, fight and win across the entire spectrum of multi-domain battle. He said, "Installations support the full spectrum of Army missions -- from industrial bases, to training and housing our Soldiers, to mobilizing and deploying -- installations are increasingly connected to the fight and rely on reliable access to energy and water.

"Modernizing installation energy and water programs, technology and infrastructure will increase the U.S. Army's ability to project multi-domain operations. Through diligent energy management, our installations can become robust and resilient power projection platforms."

"We are leveraging all approaches to address energy and water resilience, to include management and cost reduction and control initiatives on our installations. As we focus on resilience, our installations must also adapt to make smarter energy and water choices, which not only saves taxpayer dollars, but more importantly, allows installations to maintain critical operations during an unexpected grid outage," Surash said.

He also discussed policy and strategic updates. He said that within the installation portfolio, the focus is preparing for war. An area where Army installations are instrumental.

The Army Energy Managers Training Workshop allowed for the collaboration and discussion among energy professionals about energy resilience best management practices. He discussed his 'top ten' resilience and efficiency strategies for installations, which are (1) energy resilience training exercises, (2) onsite energy generation, (3) issuing mock electric bills to installation tenants to motivate energy efficient and cost-saving measures, (4) lowering lifecycle costs, (5) building control systems, (6) reducing demand, (7) guaranteed energy savings, (8) use of native landscapes, (9) single stream recycling and (10) reducing waste.

Surash told the Army Energy Professionals, "The Army's energy resilience efforts would not be where they are without you and your team -- your dedication shows and I'm appreciative. But, we also have a long way to go as we continue to pivot from conservation and efficiency to a primary focus of resilience.

"Open dialogue is our best chance at success," Surash said.

Related Links:

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy and Environment)

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management

U.S. Army Materiel Command

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Energy and Sustainability)

U.S. Army National Guard

U.S. Army Reserve