Award Winning Author Visits Naval Air Station Jacksonville

By Kaylee LaRocque, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- A freelance science journalist visited Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax) July 14 to learn about naval installation energy conservation for an upcoming book on future energy in America.

Author Maggie Koerth-Baker met with energy specialists from NAS Jax, Navy Region Southeast (NRSE) and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast (NAVFAC SE) and toured several facilities to learn about energy conservation projects.

"A lot of people talk about what we have to do to combat climate change and reduce our carbon footprint, but it's usually in terms of sacrifice – something that moves us backwards and makes us less productive," said Koerth-Baker. "I'm looking at how will we make energy in the future, how we will get the services we want with less energy and how that's going to change the way we live 30-40 years from now."

During her visit, Koerth-Baker asked how base energy use in buildings is changing and how NAS Jax uses metering to monitor energy use.

"Metering is the way we can see what facilities use as far as energy, water and natural gas. By knowing what people are using, we can address it," Cmdr. Bill Siemer, NAS Jax public works officer, said.

Metering is a big step to help change individual behavior towards energy conservation.

"Instead of getting a bill a month later and trying to determine where all the energy was used, we will see what's going in real time and find out why there was an increase in energy use at specific times," Merrill said.

NAS Jax requires the 117 commands to have a trained energy building monitor, usually a junior Sailor trained and given the responsibility of overseeing their command's energy program.

"This program has proven to be very effective here," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class (AW/NAC) Mike Blair, NAS Jax Building Energy Monitor Program manager. "If they have a bad month, they will go in and reassess what they've been doing and try to fix the problem."

NAS Jax uses various types of automated equipment and has installed solar panels in the various buildings to conserve energy.

"Most of the buildings have motion sensors for lights and vending machines. We also received $65 million dollars to install integrated photovoltaic (solar panels) at 11 bases," Merrill said. "Every base will get them but we're being smart about it."

NAS Jax is partnered with the local electric company JEA and gas company TECO People's Gas on energy conservation projects.

"It's a great partnership and NAS Jax is a leader in this initiative," said Clark. "This is a great way to install new lighting, HVAC and it's also a benefit to the utility companies."

NAS Jax has initiated a footprint reduction master plan.

"We build new energy-efficient buildings and tear down the old buildings," said Siemer. "We continue to construct new energy-efficient facilities at NAS Jax and consolidate like commands/functions into single facilities."