Environmental Leader

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS), Calif., earned a Presidential Leadership Award for federal energy and water management, Navy News reports.

MCAS Miramar saved 97 million gallons of water in 2007, translating to a cost saving of $860,000 per year.

Other Navy and Marine Corps winners of the FEMP awards are:

Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division – Achieved a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption versus the 2003 baseline at its three largest energy-consuming sites,

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Tiger Team – Since 2005, the Tiger Team has identified almost $10 million in savings opportunities. In 2007, installations implemented tiger team recommendations totaled $3.5 million and about 163 billion MBtu in savings.

Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif. – Reduced energy use by nearly 8 percent from the previous year and 14.5 percent below its 2003 baseline.

Bernard Lindsey, Navy Region Southwest, Utilities and Energy Program Manager – Reduced energy use by more than 16 percent from the 2003 baseline, saving 376,000 MBtu in energy, conserving 380 million gallons of water and reducing the region’s utility costs by 9 percent.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Designed and constructed two solar thermal Photovoltaic arrays at two pools, each with a 500,000 gallon capacity, that provide daily training of Marine Corps personnel. The approach increased the renewable generation capability on Camp Pendleton while reducing operational costs.

Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, reported that it replaced a large number of T12 fluorescent tubes and magnetic ballast with T8 lamps and electronic ballasts that can save up to 35 percent on energy costs. The air force estimate the retrofit will save around $255,000 annually.

Associated Construction Publications reported that President Bush recently signed the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization bill, which contains legislation that directs the DOD to incorporate “principles of sustainable design” and “life-cycle cost-effective practices” in military construction.

In July, the U.S. army announced it is planning to cut its GHG emissions by 30 percent in seven years.

Earlier this year, the Army implemented its first real-time GHG reporting and management system at Fort Carson, Colorado as part of its plan to reduce GHG emissions.