Joseph Benjamin Energy Solutions
How Schofield Barracks Saved Over $400k, Annually, on Energy Costs By Partnering with Joseph Benjamin Energy Solutions
Client:
Schofield Barracks is a United States Army base located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Home to the 25th Infantry Division, the base covers an area of approximately 17,000 acres. It includes various training facilities, housing units, and recreational areas for military personnel and their families. Schofield Barracks has a long history of serving as a hub for military operations in the Pacific region and continues to play an important role in the defense of the United States.
Challenge:
Aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental performance of operations, as well as enhancing the well-being of soldiers and their families, the United States Army established a number of goals for sustainability, including:
- reducing energy consumption
- improving water management
- minimizing waste and pollution.
As part of its sustainability efforts, the Army needed to address the use of expensive fuel sources at military installations around the world, including Schofield Barracks. Due to their age, the facilities relied on outdated, propane-fueled boilers to provide hot water, which produced significant costs as propane had to be shipped to the Hawaiian Islands.
Solution
Joseph Benjamin was contracted to supply and install 550 10’ x 4’ solar thermal collectors at Schofield Barracks in O’ahu, Hawai’i for heating water. The project resulted in a daily solar BTU output of 22 MM, replacing the need for 366 gallons of propane per day. The propane, which previously had to be shipped to the islands, would have cost the military approximately $401k per year. The project resulted in significant cost savings and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. The project was a success in both financial and sustainability terms:
- $401,000 per year savings
- Replaced need for 366 gallons of propane per day
- Reduced reliance on fossil fuels
