U.S. Army, Fort Bragg – Barrett Moorhouse – 2018

Goals 

The Department of Defense and the U.S. Army are challenged with securing steady resource inputs that are jeopardized by damaging weather events, equipment failures or cyber threats. Fort Bragg, home of the Airborne and Special Operations for the Army, is one of the largest military complexes in the world, with over 2,500 buildings and a real property footprint of 33 million square feet. EDF Climate Corps fellow Barrett Moorhouse, a former Marine Corps Captain, was brought in to assist the energy team by analyzing their potential Utility Energy Savings Contract and the effectiveness of some of their existing technologies.

Because building occupant behavior had been identified as a significant opportunity for energy conservation, Moorhouse was also tasked with engaging occupants and inspiring behavior change.

Solutions 

Moorhouse collaborated with industry experts and the energy team to develop tools and procedures that could help with future projects. This work required an in-depth understanding of the way Fort Bragg procures energy, the complex billing structures and insights into the uncertainty of future commodity prices. Fort Bragg is a sizeable general service customer with a competitive rate.  Energy conservation measures that are lifecycle cost effective can be a challenge to implement. Moorhouse analyzed energy consumption from the ground source community loop heat transfer system to determine whether savings from the original scope of the project justified expansion. Based on this assessment, he recommended continuing to develop the geothermal system and expand the loop from three to four buildings.

Moorhouse also helped refine the Fort Bragg Building Energy Monitor Training which will enable the energy team to educate facility managers on energy conservation measures and encourage ownership and accountability.

Potential Impact 

Adding a hydroelectric turbine generates an estimated annual savings of $169,450. Most importantly, it provides increased energy security and resiliency against natural disasters or cyber threats. Adding an additional building into the ground source community loop heat transfer system could also reduce electricity use by 34% or save $23,390 annually. Moorhouse’s recommendations have improved the energy team’s ability to evaluate energy conservation measures and will give them a better understanding of the value and impact of new projects moving forward.