Implementation of ground source heat pumps in DON facilities - a feasibility study

Abstract

The Civil Engineering Corps and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command has the distinct honor and challenge to oversee all facilities management functions from design and contract, to construction, to maintenance and repair and finally to demolition and disposal. In order to assist this monumental undertaking, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) is organized with Engneering Field Divisions (EFD) and Engineering Field Activities (EFA) serving distinct geographical regions of responsibility. As Navy shore facilities continue to age, with average building ages on some stations exceeding 40 to 50 years, maintenance and upkeep costs continue to amass in the midst of military "right sizing" and budget reallocations. As downsizing or "right-sizing" continues, the DON will continue to seek a fair balance between operational/war fighting priorities and facilities maintenance and construction initiatives. Money will likely continue to follow ongoing trends and move from facilities Operation and MAintenance (O&M) budgets to the war fighting initiatives such as ships, weapons, aircraft, and research and development of new "Over the Horizon" weapons to further augment our "From the Sea" war fighting strategy. This will continue to place increased pressure of limited O&M budgets upon facilities managers that are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all shore support facilities. The ability to do more with less and stretch the ever shrinking facilities O&M budgets will be key to the success of the Civil Engineer Corps in the years ahead. Geothermal technologies have been utilized in the recent years at eleven Navy and Marine Corps installations. The success of these geothermal system implementations merits further detailed review of the system technology and its benefits. This paper will explore the utilization of Ground Source Heat Pumps in military family housing and berthing facilities within the Department of the Navy (DON) and project potential DON wide benefits created by geothermal system implementation.