PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Energy industry representatives, along with Picatinny energy engineers, shared information and provided updates from an array of energy related programs available for homeowners and businesses during an Energy Action Day event at the installation's Sam Adam Pub on Oct. 23.
Subject matter experts from JCP&L Electric, New Jersey Natural Gas, Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative (SREC), American Water, and Powers Electric, spoke to employees and family members about home improvement resources and energy cost assistance programs from utility companies. Those who attended were also able to receive updates on Picatinny Arsenal energy and water conservation and renewable energy projects.
The event was part of the Picatinny Arsenal's Energy Action Month (EAM) observance. The U.S. Army observes EAM each October to promote energy security initiatives and to emphasize operational and installation energy resilience. EAM provides an opportunity to reinforce key messages that secure and reliable access to energy is vital for the Army to perform its mission and support global operations.
EAM raises awareness of Army energy security and resilience initiatives to encourage Soldiers, Family Members, Army Civilians, Defense Contractors and utility partners to promote efficient energy behavior, improve resilience by incorporating energy sustainability and resilience into everyday decisions, and reduce energy consumption.
EAM provides an opportunity to raise awareness of Installation and Operational energy resilience initiatives in programs and equipment.
From installations to the battlefield, the U.S. Army’s theme for the 2024 observance is “Powering the Mission.”
“Uninterrupted access to energy is critical to the Army mission, whether it’s the electricity on our installations or the fuel powering our vehicles,” said Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. “That is why the Army is leading the way when it comes to energy conservation and innovation. We’re continuing to fight more with less energy, while harnessing new forms of advanced generation to deliver reliable and resilient power for the mission.”
The Army’s priority is readiness – ensuring that Soldiers have the tools and training they need to be lethal and ready to fight, survive and win. Readiness requires a Total Army force effort, to include the work of the Army energy programs and professionals.
As such, the Army is continuously transforming how we consume energy on our installations and in our combat vehicles so we can improve the lethal effects of the force while reducing risks to our Soldiers, Army families, and civilians.
The Army is working with utilities, communities, and industry to install self-contained generation and storage, linked with microgrid controls, to enable uninterrupted power for critical missions, and to strengthen energy resilience in defense communities.
Energy bills are one of an installation’s highest annual costs. Resilience and efficiency investments help to control and reduce those expenditures, making resources available for other mission critical priorities.
Picatinny Arsenal spends more than $15 million annually for energy and water. To minimize this spend, Picatinny Arsenal continues to reduce site energy use through current, and future projects including:
· LED Lighting upgrades in progress throughout the base
· Building Energy Audits
· HVAC Improvements
· Boiler efficiency upgrades
· Solar panel field current in use and future expansion
· Cogeneration plant for combined on-site electricity and heat generation
· Planning Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities for government electric Non-Tactical Vehicles (NTVs)
Your participation is needed in helping to reduce energy consumption. Here are some things you can do to help:
- Turn off lights and lower thermostats when space is not occupied and especially when leaving for the day.
- When possible, turn off equipment when not in use.
- Report building issues that need attention, including those causing higher energy consumption, by contacting the building manager to submit an ARMA ticket.
- Reporting small and large issues early on is important to the Garrison as it allows for planning of preventative maintenance which is less costly than reactive maintenance.
- Further Energy Conservation guidance is available in the U.S. Army Garrison, Picatinny Arsenal Policy Memorandum #25, Command Policy for Energy Conservation [PDF - 246.9 KB] from the Garrison Commander LTC. Bonham II
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