GTI initiatives aim to help the Department of Defense (DOD) reduce their need for facility energy, while also enhancing onsite energy reliability and resilience by developing and deploying advanced cost-effective and efficient energy solutions for buildings, onsite generation, and resilience.
GTI is evaluating a comprehensive slate of emerging technologies for their ability to cost-effectively reduce energy use and improve energy resilience.
These multi-phase RD&D projects are evaluating technologies using higher efficiency cycles, improved controls, energy recovery, and other enhancements to combined heat and power (CHP) or distributed power generation equipment, hybrid non-condensing/condensing boilers, destratification fans, and similar hardware. New natural gas energy efficiency technologies are being evaluated at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Mississippi.
High-efficiency natural gas equipment is being tested at the the Illinois Army Natural Guard facilities, proving over 40% in energy savings. In addition, demand response natural gas emergency generation sets that provide the facilities with fuel diversity and ability to “island” in the event of power outages are also being assessed.
GTI has also been awarded a project under DOD's Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) to test and validate micro-CHP technology to create greater resiliency in military bases.
Demonstrating Natural Gas and Electric Heat Pump Systems in a Cold Climate
A side-by-side assessment of a gas engine heat pump (GHP) and electric cold climate heat pump for heating/cooling compared to an existing conventional HVAC system has been completed at Naval Station Great Lakes.
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump systems provide space conditioning for multi-zone commercial buildings. The demonstration included a measured field performance evaluation as well as enhancement of Energy Plus models for both gas and electric variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump systems which provide space conditioning for multi-zone commercial buildings. Both VRF systems demonstrated improved comfort along with energy savings, reduced peak electric demand, and lower lifecycle costs compared to the baseline system.
Both VRF systems reduced primary energy use by about 57% and lowered full-fuel-cycle GHG emissions by over 50% compared to the baseline.
Energy and Water Efficiency Improvements for Dishrooms in Military Dining Facilities
At the U.S. Army Garrison Presidio in Monterey, California, three dishroom technologies—waste water heat recovery, an advanced ventilation system, and a low water usage warewasher—were integrated to demonstrate and quantify energy and water savings.
The demonstration of this high-efficiency commercial food service dish machine produced noteworthy results including 51% gas savings, 41% electricity savings, and 81% water savings.
A Best Practices Guide and webinar were developed to assist energy managers, consultants, and commercial foodservice contractors at DOD locations in understanding the benefits of these dishroom technologies.
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