Monterey, California - Naval Support Activity (NSA) Monterey earned the fiscal year 2014 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Environmental Award for Sustainability.
Vice Adm. Phil Cullom, deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics (N4), announced the 27 winners of the fiscal year 2014 CNO Environmental Awards competition in a naval message.
"I applaud all of the nominees for your exceptional dedication to protecting the environment and preserving resources in support of our Navy mission," Vice Adm. Cullom wrote in the March 3 message.
Robust energy and water conservation programs, unprecedented solid waste diversion rates, and community partnerships led to the award for outstanding achievements. Leading the way in environmental protection is good news for the installation and its neighbors.
"Earning this award represents the installation's commitment to environmental stewardship," said Capt. Tim Faller, Commanding Officer NSA Monterey. "It's our responsibility to be a good neighbor in our community."
As a good neighbor, NSA Monterey surpassed Department of Defense potable water conservation goals by 51%. Part of the conservation goal was nearly an effortless achievement because the installation lies at the lowest end of an 1,100-acre watershed.
"Storm water moves from city culverts onto the installation where it is collected in Lake Del Monte on the main grounds," explained Johanna Turner, Installation Environmental Program Director. "The installation realizes significant potable water savings by capturing storm water to be used for irrigation."
This arrangement provides for more than 8 million gallons of water for irrigation on the main base and Navy's Monterey Pines Golf course, providing nearly 100 percent of the installation's irrigation needs. An additional 2 million gallons of water was saved by installing aerators and dual flush handles in sinks, toilets, and showers.
Saving water is only part of the Environmental Division's focus. An Energy Working Group comprised of Public Works energy managers and subject matter experts created a plan of action to improve energy efficiency on the installation.
"For example, a design concept was developed in-house to replace the need for traditional air conditioning by introducing cool outside air into a building's ventilation system," noted Turner.
The modification, now installed and operational, allowed for a 95% reduction in chiller use for a major data center formerly recognized as the second largest consumer of energy in Navy Region Southwest, Turner added. The modification may be implemented throughout the installation.
"This scalable and reproducible concept is being considered for all air-conditioned buildings throughout the installation," Turner said.
The NSA Monterey footprint is geographically diverse and consists of nine separate areas. Combined, the installation manages over 160 buildings enclosing nearly 19 million square feet on almost 1,000 acres.
"Existing landscapes are managed for ecosystem health and human use, including walking trails, interpretive signage, and sitting areas. All green waste is sent to a centralized composting facility and pesticide use is kept to the absolute minimum," Turner added.
Minimizing greenhouse gasses, diverting solid waste and fostering a culture of sustainability are all part of the winning equation that led to the award and a cleaner environment.
"Through staff interaction, adoption of cutting edge technology, and forward-looking engineering, NSA Monterey is setting the standard for sustainability within the Navy and the Department of Defense," Faller said.
The winning award will advance to the Secretary of the Navy level of competition.
