A study conducted by RAND Arroyo Center investigated maintaining or enhancing military base readiness while reducing utility costs.

With regards to water and wastewater management, the study cited that there is a shift from trying to access new water sources to more efficiently using existing sources (i.e. reclaimed water and nontraditional sources).

The study also highlights that many Army installations are becoming “prosumers” of energy (producing and consuming one’s own power sources) and moving away from centralized energy systems to smaller distributed energy sources (DERs) (e.g. smart grids).

In order to reduce installation commodity payments, researchers suggest bases work with local utility providers to buy “power to renegotiate rates.” Additionally, researchers recommend seeking opportunities in utility emerging rate structures which includes “electric utility time-of-use pricing.”

“Army installations should continue to make cost-effective energy and water efficiency and infrastructure investments,” wrote the study overview.

“Options include leveraging Army mission funding for energy and water resiliency and security needs; taking advantage of federal, state, and local funding sources; and implementing nontraditional installation energy and water partnerships.”

Air Force photo by Donna Lindner