Ensuring facilities have a backup power source for resilience and redundancy is gaining traction as an engineering goal by organizations everywhere, including the U.S. Army, where it’s a new directive. A micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) system meets such goals and directives, plus it saves energy and reduces carbon emissions by reusing the heat that is produced when generating electricity. The 45,000-square-foot Northern Maine Readiness Center (NMRC) in Presque Isle, which serves the Army National Guard 185th Engineer Support Company, provides the perfect example of putting a micro-CHP system into action.

In this Studio Session, ARCHITECT Editor-in-Chief Paul Makovsky discusses the micro-CHP system at the NMRC with A.J. Ballard, energy manager at the Maine Army National Guard; Andy Rudnicki, senior mechanical engineer and firm associate at WBRC; and Tim Kingston, a director of R&D at GTI Energy. They cover topics including the role of resilience and efficiency in the design goals, the benefits of diversifying energy choices, and how much a micro-CHP can save in energy costs.

Show Notes

This Studio Session is underwritten by Propane Education & Research Council.

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