PHILADELPHIA – Several Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activities earned recognition under the fiscal year 2018 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Energy Excellence Awards, the service announced in August.
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD), was recognized with a top-level award. Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility each received gold-level awards. The Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center received a blue-level award.
“This year’s submissions reflect the hard work and dedication of leaders across the department that recognize the importance of energy security and its influence on readiness, lethality and modernization,” said Richard Spencer, Secretary of the Navy.
The SECNAV Energy Excellence Awards recognize excellence in the areas of energy security, new technology, innovation, program management and efficiency across the Department of the Navy.
There are four levels of award. The top award-winning commands receive $25,000, to be used at the discretion of the commanding officer, usually to implement eligible energy security improvements and subject to limitations on the use of operation and maintenance funds. There are also awards for platinum, gold and blue levels of achievement.
NSWCPD's energy program has been recognized by the SECNAV Energy Excellence Awards program for 16 consecutive years, including a top-level award in 2002.
“The award is a reflection of the efforts of the command and the facilities division energy team,” said Greg Cancila, NSWCPD utilities and energy engineer. “Being recognized as part of the SECNAV Energy Awards program is very satisfying, knowing the level of effort my fellow coworkers put into their work as well as always looking to increase efficiency whenever and wherever possible.”
NSWCPD’s energy efficiency improvement projects over the past year and its good stewardship of resources were key to the command’s successful nomination.
One key technology NSWCPD has used extensively since the late 1980s is direct digital control (DDC), which monitors and controls heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and lighting systems in major buildings. In 2017, NSWCPD made a significant investment to upgrade the DDC systems in multiple buildings. These upgrades enhance energy efficiency and increase NSWCPD’s ability to effectively monitor and control the HVAC and lighting systems in its facilities.
In addition to DDC system upgrades, NSWCPD has also invested in multiple interior and exterior lighting retrofit projects where less-efficient lighting systems were replaced with more efficient LED fixtures.
Since 2012, NSWCPD has invested $59 million into energy projects. In addition to the DDC and LED lighting system initiatives, other projects include a 25,000-gallon-per-minute cooling tower replacement that serves several large-scale test sites, a high-power energy recirculation system capable of providing energy efficiencies greater than 90 percent and decentralization of the steam distribution system that supports facilities at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center.
“As a Navy working capital-funded organization, NSWCPD places great emphasis on operational efficiencies,” said Cancila.
As compared to a baseline established in 2015, NSWCPD is now 14.9 percent more energy efficient. The command has also increased its water-usage efficiency by 9.9 percent compared to a baseline established in 2007.
Naval Sea Systems Command is the largest of the Navy's five systems commands. NAVSEA engineers, builds, buys and maintains the Navy’s ships, submarines and combat systems to meet the fleet's current and future operational requirements.