Southwestern Region’s Micro-grant Program 2009

1. Regional micro-grant funding provided a “real time” electrical energy display in the lobby of the Verde Ranger Station of the Prescott National Forest. The $7,000 investment included a PC that captures and processes data from meters, a 37” flat panel screen to display information in the office lobby, miscellaneous cabling and hardware, and a portion of the third-party software used to create the display. • The photo shows one of four program screens continuously updated and displayed. This particular display is the "Daily Energy Use Summary" and shows how much energy is being used at the site, how much is coming from Arizona Public Service, and how much is generated from the on-site solar photovoltaic system. Other screens in the rotation display such things as the monthly energy use and the local weather forecast. Turf areas and associated sprinkler heads were reduced or eliminated around the facility, and replaced with gravel from a Forest Service pit. District personnel consulted with a local nursery and the Forest Landscape Architect for plant selection and design layout. Plants selected were “Pink Dawn”, “Red Yucca”, “Desert Spoon”, “Pink Guara” and “Giant Arborvitae”. A watering drip system was installed for establishment of plantings. Total cost was just under $5,000. Visual appearance is already deemed a success. Water savings will be assessed next Spring. Verde RD Solar Power Display North Kaibab Ranger District Office Xeriscape AFTER BEFORE The day thedisplay was installed,almost all of the site’s electrical load was being supplied by the 18kW solarsystem with 80 PV panels. At the instant the photo was snapped, the load at the site was 13 kW and the solar array was generating 15 kW, which resulted in 2 kW going back to the utility grid for credit to the Forest Service account. • This display allows employees to see the source of the energy they’re using, and motivates them to keep energy consumption within limits of the solar PV system. It also provides opportunities for education and sustainable operations discussions with the public. Prescott NF Solar Power The Prescott National Forest installed 10 solar panels on the roof of the GIS/ Engineering building, and is now producing over 25% of the electricity consumed.Monitoring and conservation programs are also running effectively. For example, in the monitoring program they found that large plotters use 50 watts even with the front power switch turned off. So in the conservation program, theyrecommend the plotters be turned off in the back or unplugged when not in use. • Rainwater Harvesting Project • The Lincoln National Forest installed a rainwater harvesting system on the engine bay of the Smokey Bear Ranger Station in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Costs for the project were: • 5,000-gallon tank - $3,094 • Installation of gutters and PVC pipes - $1,700 • Discharge fittings - $650 • Total cost of the project was $5,444. A regional micro-grant supplied $3,500 of the cost; forest and district funds supplied the rest. Southwestern Region’s Micro-grant Program 2009 • The Smokey Bear Ranger Station, located in the Sacramento Mountains, receives a substantial percent of annual precipitation in the monsoon season (mid-July through mid-September). Rainwater harvesting has become popular in neighboring communities but is not so prevalent in Ruidoso. The Forest Service facility, with ample surface area for collecting water, became the first system in the area. The harvestable amount of water from the engine bay is estimated to be 33,700 gallons/year, and will be used in the fire engines, to wash vehicles and equipment, and for landscaping. • The district intends to publicize the rainwater harvesting system as an educational component in the conservation discussion with residents and forest visitors. This project received national recognition during the agency’s National Sustainability Summit in 2009. The district is considering replicating the project on other buildings. Total cost for the project was just over $15,000, but the power company (APS) provided a $4,375 incentive, and the forest contributed $1,000. Total micro-grant request was $9,674. This project helps the forest, region, and agency meet the goal of providing 7.5% of energy consumed by the federal government from renewable sources by 2013. Solar Power for Temporary Helibases • The Coronado NF installed solar panels on a Helitack truck in order to provide power for a temporary helibase. Now, instead of running the engine all day to support radios, computers, and phones, the vehicle can be turned off and everything can be run off the solar batteries. Initial tests were successful; the setup is ready for fire season. • Region-wide Recycling Programs Recycling programs were set up through micro-grants on the Santa Fe, Kaibab, Gila, Tonto, and Lincoln National Forests. These programs will help the forests, region, and agency meet the mandated goals of 1) reducing solid waste production by 40% by December of 2010, and 2) setting up recycling programs at all federal facilities. • The $5,000 of micro-grant funding paid for installation and materials. The portable photo-voltaic (PV) system alleviates the need to run the Helitack truck 4 or more hours each day during fire season, thereby saving fuel and reducing diesel emissions. • Big Belly Solar Trash Compactors Big Belly Solar Trash Compactors were installed on the Coronado and Tonto National Forests. Using solar energy, these units compact trash so that trash pickup is cut by 75% or more, thereby reducing fuel use and space required in landfills. The Big Belly units also provide recycling containers. As part of a pilot program, half the funding for the units was provided by the Washington Office. • Kentucky Camp Solar Water Heater A solar water heater was installed for the caretaker’s quarters at Kentucky Camp, a historic site on the Coronado National Forest. The site receives thousands of visitors each year from around the world. Not only did the project reduce propane use and fuel used to deliver propane to the remote site, but it also provided the opportunity to educate the public on solar water heating. The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) requires the federal government to meet 30% of hot water demand in new Federal buildings and major renovations with solar hot water. This project helps us become familiar with the technology. • LED Lights in Visitor Center Museum The Tonto Basin Ranger District replaced 15 fluorescent-tube lights with LED, resulting in a reduction from 384 watts of electricity use to 45 watts. Since lights stay on when the facility is open, this results in approximately 780 kilowatt-hours of direct annual energy savings. Savings are also realized in a reduction of air conditioning required since LED lights produce very little heat. The Region provided $55,000 in micro-grants in 2009. Proposals received totaled more than $85,000. Projects funded with this money provide data on sustainable operations to the rest of the region, as well as the agency, and help the Forest Service move forward in reducing its environmental footprint. • Vending Misers in Sabino Canyon The Coronado National Forest installed Vending Misers on five public vending machines at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Vending Misers power down vending machines when the surrounding area is vacant, resulting in an average of 46% reduction in energy use. For the typical vending machine, this is a cost savings of $150 per year. Each Vending Miser, which costs $200, pays for itself in less than a year and a half. • Green Wall The Coronado National Forest received micro-grant funding to construct a Green Wall in the SO conference room. This wall will provide tips on sustainable operations such as green purchasing and carpooling. Similar Green Walls will be constructed at each Ranger District. (Photo is of Regional Office’s Green Board, which serves a similar purpose.)