Lighting and heating upgrades currently being installed on the most decorated ship in U.S. Navy history, the Battleship New Jersey, will save over $200,000 annually in energy expenses. This iconic landmark, constructed in the Philadelphia Navy Yard is floating museum and integral part of American history. This ship is also a bedrock fixture to the ever-evolving waterfront complex.
“I commend the Home Port Alliance, Camden County Improvement Authority, the Board of Public Utilities and PSE&G for coming together to ensure that this floating monument will continue to teach, remind and inspire for years to come,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez. “The light of the battleship reflecting off the Delaware River each night is truly an iconic symbol of the revitalized Camden waterfront, acting as a beacon for all of the new development that will soon join it on our shore.”
Energy efficient LED light tubes will replace 5,000 T-12 fluorescent lights in 2,500 historic fixtures located throughout the battleship’s interior. Interior LED retrofitting project is expected to have an annual direct energy savings of $37,628.
The battleships inefficient electric heating system is being replaced with a natural gas system. To address the high cost of heating the ship and to conserve the demands upon the distribution grid, PSE&G has installed a natural gas supply line to the ship’s dock and with incentives provided through the NJ’s Clean Energy Program’s Pay-4-Performance program, the ship will be installing two boilers rated at 1,999 MBH input each, with a 99% efficiency rating. This heating conversion will result in $120,000 in annual savings.
When these projects are completed, the exterior lights will be converted to LED to further lower energy costs and better light the features majestic ship on the Camden waterfront.
“The upgrades being implemented not only make the battleship greener and reduce energy costs, it offers a unique opportunity to teach the young people that visit the ship about the importance of utilizing technology to become better stewards of the environment,” Rodriguez said.
The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial currently spends over $500,000 annually on electric utility service to light and heat BB-62. Once the interior and exterior LED lighting upgrades and the conversion to natural gas heating have been completed, the battleship’s annual utility expenses are expected to be reduced by over 30%.
The USS New Jersey earned the Navy Unit Commendation for Vietnam service. The Big J has received nine battle stars for World War II; four for the Korean conflict; and two for Vietnam, and three Campaign Stars for service off Beirut, Lebanon and service in the Persian Gulf, prior to Operation Desert Storm. With a total of Nineteen Battle and Campaign Stars, the New Jersey is America’s most decorated battleship and surviving warship.