Demonstrating High-Efficiency Appliances and HVAC Systems

Source: Flow Environment Systems

GTI Energy is collaborating with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) to evaluate high-performance equipment that reduces utility consumption, lowers emissions, and enhances operational efficiency at U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) sites.

At Presidio, GTI Energy supported an ESTCP demonstration focused on improving energy and water efficiency in commercial food service operations. The project deployed high-performance warewashers with integrated heat recovery to reduce utility consumption. Completed in 2017, the demonstration achieved over 80% savings in both water and energy use, offering a scalable solution for other DOD food service facilities seeking cost-effective upgrades. Previous ESTCP tests at NSGL demonstrated electric and gas-engine Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems cut energy consumption by 50%, though broader adoption is limited by Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) code requirements.

Two additional projects are currently underway at Fort Lee (Virginia) and Fort Benning (Georgia):

• A CO₂-based electric heat pump system designed for commercial water heating is being tested in combination with existing gas boilers. The new hybrid water heating plants will measure the improvement in energy performance compared to conventional heating systems.
• A hybrid dual-fuel rooftop unit (RTU) that combines a high-efficiency electric heat pump with a supplemental gas furnace is being evaluated for space conditioning. A third-party machine learning platform has potential to control the unit by continuously analyzing projected energy prices of available fuels, system efficiency, and forecasted weather to automatically optimize operating costs or to reduce peak electric demand.

These innovative projects demonstrate the potential of dual-fuel water heating and HVAC systems to deliver real-time energy optimization and reduce lifecycle costs across a wide range of DOD facility types.