Matthew Schreck, energy and water conservation manager for Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) captured the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Environmental Award in the Individual Sustainability category for Fiscal Year 2012.

The CNO announcement was released via Navy message February 13, 2013, and the SECNAV selection April 10.

Divided into 11 categories encompassing conservation, quality, resources management and sustainability, the environmental awards recognize Navy commands and individuals who have demonstrated significant accomplishments promoting environmental stewardship.

During FY 2012, FRCSW realized more than $800,000 in energy rebates; cut water usage by 120 kilo-gallons; cut over 6,400 British Thermal Units (MMBTU); and saved more than $517,000 in energy. MMBTU is an energy measurement for steam, electricity or natural gas.

The savings were gained through an array of more than 20 energy-savings projects directed by Schreck.

A certified energy manager and auditor, Schreck is responsible for the oversight of $10 million in Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) and command funded projects. The ECIP is Congressional funding for renewable technologies.

“Of the $10 million investment funds, the FRCSW command funded $7.7 million under a utility energy services contract (UESC), and the remaining funding was from the ECIP and command funds known as (PIP) funding,” Schreck stated.

“Respective to the ECIP, we integrated daylight harvesting projects in Buildings 250 and 65 and integrated Fleet Readiness Centers’ first renewable generation, or solar panels, atop Building 65,” he said.

The command’s utility rebates are strictly awarded through San Diego Gas and Electric’s (SDGE) Energy Savings Bid program, which encourages large, nonresidential, energy-saving natural gas and electrical retrofit projects.

Schreck cited lighting improvements to the metrology lab as an example of the SDGE rebate program.

“We put in a new lighting control system integrated with direct digital control which is saving about $30,000 per year in electricity; with another $20,000 rebate from SDGE. That was funded from FY 2012 rebates.”

Energy improvements to Building 378 which included the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, chilled and hot water boiler plants, and vacuum systems control, totaled more than $250,000 in annual savings and over $175,000 in SDGE rebates.

High bay lighting replacement throughout Buildings 378, 460, 443, 94, and 397 gained over $170,000 in annual energy savings, and more than $80,000 in SDGE rebates.

Reductions and upgrades to air handling units along with chiller plant upgrades in Building 472 captured over $150,000 in annual savings, and more than $62,000 in SDGE rebates.

“We use strict criteria of life cycle costs analysis to determine our return on investment,” Schreck said. “It calculates how long it will take for the equipment to pay back from the energy savings. This has resulted in a 14 percent annual return on those investments.”

Among his current projects, Schreck is targeting energy efficiency moves at the FRCSW paint complex.

“The air optimization energy project at the paint complex integrates Variable Frequency Drives on large ventilation units with advanced Energy Management Systems, and has saved over $500,000 in steam and is projected to save another 665,600 kilowatt-hours per year; yielding a savings of over $100,000 annually,” Schreck said.

Looking ahead, a large project designed to improve the operational energy standards of 20 FRCSW buildings has been formulated.

The program will devote millions of dollars in energy efficiency and renewable projects to be implemented using standard and advanced technologies.

“We’ve developed the scope of work, the life cycle cost analysis, and now it just has to be run through management who will approve the most fiscally solvent option to mitigate those utility bills,” Schreck said.

"Even though I help to develop, design and execute these projects, it is the managers and artisans in the buildings who continue the energy conservation measures,” he stated.

There were 30 FY 2012 CNO Environmental Award winners and 17 within SECNAV. Schreck and 14 other SECNAV recipients will advance to the Secretary of Defense level of competition.