MILTON — Gulf Power Company members and Naval Air Station Whiting Field senior commanders have broken ground on a Utility Energy Service Contract to bring energy upgrades to the base.
The total project cost is $9.8 million and will reportedly reduce the base's energy consumption by 15 percent and save $495,000 a year in energy costs.
According to Jason Poe, installation energy manager for Whiting Field, approximately 500 interior and exterior fluorescent, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lighting fixtures will be upgraded to LEDs. Cooling systems will be upgraded with a "virtual plant (acting) as one collective unit to serve cooling loads via piping in four different simulator buildings."
Whiting Field Commander Todd Bahlau said, "This is a big deal for Naval Air Station Whiting Field for many reasons. First of all, this project reduces our energy footprint. It enhances our energy resiliency and enables us to reprioritize our savings to improve our operational readiness for years to come.
“Furthermore, it creates a better working environment for our proud employees here at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. It also enhances our great partnership with Gulf Power. So bottom line, it's a win-win for us and Gulf Power."
The impact on Whiting Field will be:
17,000 MBTU savings, equivalent to 350 houses worth of energy
26 million gallons of water savings, equivalent to 180 households worth of water consumption each year
$51,000 in operating, maintenance and avoided costs captured
Energy savings, reduction in operational expenditures, enhanced reliability, increased comfort levels and higher lighting quality within working environments.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: NAS Whiting Field, Gulf Power celebrate energy conservation contract