Installation-Wide Energy Conservation Demonstration at Fort McClellan, Alabama

The objective of the installation-wide energy conservation demonstration at Fort McClellan, AL, was to evaluate the effectiveness of applying available energy conservation technologies and techniques on an installation-wide basis to produce significant and predictable reductions in energy use and cost. Five major areas of energy conservation were identified and investigated: (1) pressure reduction in district steam heating systems; (2) reduction of outdoor air in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; (3) replacement of oversized and inefficient motors in HVAC systems; (4) reduction of outdoor air infiltration in family housing; and (5) combustion optimization of gas-fired heating equipment. Other areas of investigation included radio controlled exterior lighting, and temperature reduction in the high temperature hot water system. Each conservation project was evaluated on a small scale to verify energy savings before it was implemented. An energy information management system was developed to maintain annual consumption data for each building. The system provides immediate feedback on energy use so managers can make correct decisions on conservation measures. The energy conservation programs that were implemented at Fort McClellan contributed to the 14 percent reduction in baseline (weather independent) energy consumption from FY84 to FY86. These programs have wide applicability to other U.S. Army installations. This research has also shown the importance of preliminary, small-scale testing of energy conservation programs before implementation.