Camp Atterbury hosts Sustainable Energy Symposium

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Bruce | Over 40 representatives from state, local and federal agencies, utilities and industry representatives attend the South Central Indiana Sustainable Energy Symposium at Camp Atterbury March 24. The event, held at Atterbury’s Conference Center, presented a variety of energy technology demonstrations, several discussion panels and an exhibitor from Windstream Technologies, Inc., a local Indiana company whose goal is designing affordable and scalable renewable energy.  

EDINBURGH, IN, UNITED STATES

03.24.2015

Story by Capt. Jessica Cates 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

ENDINBURGH, Ind., - Just last week President Obama issued an Executive Order that will cut the Federal Government’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 percent from 2008 levels over the next decade. With the goal of reaching “net zero” by 2025, Camp Atterbury and staff from Indiana University and Purdue University, along with personnel from NAVSEA Crane Warfare Center and other industry representatives, gathered March 24, to hold the South Central Indiana Sustainable Energy Symposium.

The event, held at Atterbury’s Conference Center, presented a variety of energy technology demonstrations, several discussion panels and an exhibitor from Windstream Technologies, Inc., a local Indiana company whose goal is designing affordable and scalable renewable energy.

The idea of the event developed when leaders from Atterbury’s master planning team and Dr. Alex Dzierba from Indiana University were discussing future needs of the installation in energy reduction projects.

“Atterbury needs to reduce energy costs, but we are limited on space because most of the 34,000 acres is training land. Things to consider when we talk about these projects are environmental considerations, training space and aircraft, which steer us away from large solar fields and wind mills,” said Joe Rathz, assistant master planner, Atterbury-Muscatatuck.

Indiana University has already taken a forceful approach toward energy conservation by hosting the annual Energy Challenge, which will celebrate its ninth anniversary this year, running from March 26 through April 16. The purpose of the Energy Challenge is to instill conservation habits in participants. It rewards students for making small behavior changes that, when performed collectively, can substantially decrease Indiana University’s environmental impact.

“The IU Energy Challenge is the largest single-campus energy and water competition in the country,” said Bill Brown, IU Bloomington director of sustainability. “When you have residence halls, apartments, Greek houses and academic and administration buildings engaged, the total savings are significant.”

Atterbury-Muscatatuck is currently moving aggressively on energy conservation by developing several solar/wind projects to be funded for the near future, in order to be cost effective and get closer to the 2025 executive order.

“If we can improve our energy efficiency, even by just a small amount, we can have a big impact on costs,” said Lt Col R. Dale Lyles, Executive Officer for Atterbury-Muscatatuck. “A one percent improvement in our average energy efficiency can translate into a savings of nearly 10 million dollars.”

Volunteer groups like the Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network brought great resources to the Symposium with the goals of public outreach and education on energy conservation.

Researchers with the group talked about the use of solar panels as an architectural feature, such as on awnings, carports or on a roof with good southern exposure.

This will be one among many symposia to discuss sustainable energy solutions and collaborations as Atterbury looks for solutions in energy reduction. For now they urge occupants of the post to engage in their own sustainability activities focused toward energy conservation.

• Date Taken: 03.24.2015
• Date Posted: 03.30.2015 18:44
• Story ID: 158591
• Location: EDINBURGH, IN, US