Audits Yield Big Savings for Marine Forces Reserve

Farnsworth Group provided ASHRAE Level 2 Energy Audits at 30 sites nationwide for the Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES), covering a total of 97 buildings.

The average size of the buildings was 13,435 SF. The purpose of this project was to identify the most cost-effective Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) to improve energy and water consumption and to reduce cost. Typical building types included administrative offices, vehicle maintenance facilities and physical training/practice rooms.

Work was performed by five teams of two or three members each, including a team from project partner North Wind. The five-month timetable for the scope of work included 120 days to complete the audits.

SCOPE OF SERVICES / WORK PERFORMED

• Audits of mechanical and electrical system

• Audits of water-consuming equipment

• Data collection and analysis

• Utility billing review

• Identification and analysis of energy conservation measures (ECMs)

• Identification and analysis of water saving measures (WSMs)

• Final reports for each installation

Among the challenges this contract presented were an accelerated schedule, multiple facilities, and limited available historical documentation.

It was determined that the Marine Corps was being billed for 12 times the actual usage in (one) building. Correcting this error resulted in an immediate credit of nearly $100,000 and an annual savings of about $70,000 going forward.