Phoenix Convention Center • Phoenix, Arizona

Net Zero for the Army Reserve

Sustainability Track Getting to Net Zero: Energy, Water and Waste

Amy SolanaPacific Northwest National Laboratory

August 12, 2015

PNNL-SA-111596

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade2

Agenda

• Program Overview• Execution Methods• Common Recommendations• Example Analysis• Conclusions

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Net Zero Goals for Army Reserve

• In 2013, the Army Reserve set a goal to expand the Army’s Net Zero Program to include Reserve Centers

• Reserve Centers present unique challenges for net zero because they are small and geographically dispersed

• Goals for Army Reserve pilot net zero program:– Include at least 1 facility type in each of the 4 CONUS regions:

• Small/medium Reserve Center• Large Reserve Center• Equipment Concentration Site (ECS)• Area Maintenance Shop (AMSA)

– Include all 4 properties in the Pacific region– Each site will pursue net zero energy, water, and waste

3

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Army Reserve Net Zero Objectives

• Net Zero Energy: Reduce overall energy consumption, and produce as much renewable energy on site as the site uses, over the course of a year. Be able to operate independently of the grid if the local grid is vulnerable to failures.

• Net Zero Water: Limit the consumption of fresh water, maximize the use of alternative water, and return water back to the regional watershed to help sustain regional water resources.

• Net Zero Waste: Reduce, reuse, and recover solid waste streams, converting them to valuable resources, with zero landfill over the course of a year.– Biosolids are included, hazardous waste is not.

– Waste can be “recovered” in a waste-to-energy facility, but byproducts (including ash) must be recycled.

4

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Process

1. Choose sites (nominate and rank)2. Conduct Net Zero-focused Comprehensive Energy and Water

Evaluation for sites rated as high and medium priority3. Analyze net zero pathways4. Develop recommendations and net zero roadmap

5

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Nominated Net Zero Pilot Sites

6

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Net Zero Evaluation Scope

• Existing and planned buildings• Current operations and education opportunities• Engineering & economic analyses

– Energy efficiency, conservation, and controls – Renewable energy – Microgrid for energy security– Water efficiency and conservation– Alternative water supply and wastewater treatment– Waste reduction, diversion, and waste-to-energy

7

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Analysis Process

8

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Three Net Zero Implementation Scenarios

1. Cost-effective– SIR > 1.0 on individual measure basis– Waste only: includes projects that are easy to implement (cost savings

and cost-effectiveness are often uncertain)

2. Required to meet net zero– Meets future estimated loads and net zero definitions

3. Recommended– Cost-effective– Practical– Similar projects already being implemented on site– Meets security needs

9

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Net Zero Recommendations

10

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade11

Example Site

Net Zero Site Boundary

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Example Baseline Description

• Island location• In need of envelope upgrades to withstand local climate• 2 Reserve Center bldgs + 2 Post Exchange (PX) bldgs, with plans for 2

additional Reserve bldgs and 1 additional PX bldg• 15,606 ft2 total, to be approximately doubled• Years built: 1987 and 2002• Energy

– Consumption: estimated 114 MWh/yr, including increase from planned buildings and decrease from improved envelopes

– Cost: $0.42/kWh, estimated $48k/yr• Water

– Consumption: 144 kgal/yr for both USARC and PX (average); no increase anticipated because population remains the same

– Cost: $8.52/kgal, $1.2k/yr (average)• Waste

– Generation: unknown; shared dumpsters for USARC and PX– Cost: $5k/yr

12

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade13

• Net Zero Energy: Achievable– 25% energy use reduction from future

assumed load– Solar PV and solar water heating– Grid-tied microgrid

• Net Zero Waste: Partially Achievable– ~60% waste diversion– Community WTE facility (if not built,

net zero waste is not achievable)

• Net Zero Water: Achievable, Not Recommended– 44% water use reduction– Rainwater capture for potable water

(not recommended)– Onsite wastewater treatment (not

recommended)• Funding options: appropriated (utilities

modernization, O&M)

Example Net Zero Results Summary

NZ Category

Capital Cost($)

Utility Cost Savings ($/yr)

O&M Cost Savings($/yr)

Future Annual Utility Cost

($/yr)

Utility Cost Savings

(%) SIREnergy $378k $48k -$780 $48k 100% 1.9

Water $7k $0.5k $40 $1k 44% 1.9

Waste $1.4k $1.4k $820 $5k 30% 15.6

TOTAL $386k $50k $80 $54k 92% 2.0

Summary of Recommended Measures

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Example Net Zero Energy Results

Objective: Reduce energy use by 25% from FY14 levels and supply the remainder, including future energy load, with onsite renewable energy.

14

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Example Net Zero Water Results

Objective: Reduce plumbing potable water consumption, provide remainder from rainwater, and treat wastewater on site.• Net zero water is not recommended because rainwater harvesting is very

expensive for the location and onsite wastewater treatment is risky due to site flooding.

15

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Example Net Zero Waste Results

Objective: Eliminate solid waste disposed at a landfill by reducing and diverting as much as possible, and treat the remainder at a WTE facility that does not generate landfilled byproducts.• Net zero waste is not possible because a WTE facility on the island is unlikely at this

time, and if it is built it will likely generate landfilled byproducts.

16

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Challenges Achieving Net Zero at Reserve Centers

• External factors affected economics– Utility requirements for battery backups to renewable energy

systems– Inadequate level of service requires fixes that don’t generate

monetary savings (e.g., electricity, HVAC)• Waste generation information is not available for small

sites – waste utilities charge by dumpster not by ton– Analysis based on assumptions– Accurate results require detailed waste evaluation

• Irregular and transient occupancy, few weekday staff, and high weekend occupancy make engagement difficult and require unique considerations– Equipment operation, sizing, and cost-effectiveness

17

Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade

Lessons Learned from the Army Reserve Net Zero Pilot Program

• Net zero is often not life-cycle cost-effective– Recommendations that provide near-net zero solutions are useful– Favorable conditions for NZ include:

• High utility costs (and no natural gas)• Security or reliable service concerns• Regional/local supply issues

• Small AR site sizes restrict technology options (e.g., WTE), but also present opportunities (e.g., rainwater harvesting)

• Behavioral changes and top-down policy changes needed to meet net zero objectives and maintain savings achieved

• Need fully implemented BAS to effectively monitor and continuously retune net zero Reserve Centers

• Need facility coordinator to have net zero actions included in official duties

• Need champion at region HQ to implement projects

18