Earlier this year, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA took significant steps to become more energy efficient and environmentally conscious.
In February 2013, Moran Environmental Recovery based in Wilmington, NC, removed over 15,000 gallons of WWII-era bunker fuel from eight separate port side bow tanks. More than 225,000 gallons of similar fuel oil remains onboard in various internal storage tanks. Removal of fuel oil is part of a long-term hull repair strategy and is critical to both the renovation of the Battleship and protection of the environment.
During the month of April, Greentech Solutions Group based in Raleigh, NC, converted the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA store, exhibit hall and visitor’s center to the latest LED and high efficiency fluorescent lighting technology as part of a project that will drastically reduce energy consumption and allow the Battleship to redirect the savings in energy costs to the renovation of the Memorial. This project got its start after North Carolina State University Energy Solutions’ team conducted a comprehensive energy assessment, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, of the Battleship and the visitor center that resulted in a number of energy conservation recommendations.
”We need to continue to be good stewards of the environment and of the Battleship Memorial by reducing our energy consumption and our environmental footprint. These efforts support those goals,” says Chris Vargo, Assistant Director at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA.
Vargo states, “Lighting upgrades to the store and visitor center will save the Battleship an estimated $40,000 over the next ten years in energy and maintenance costs. Our next step is to develop a similar lighting project for the ship itself that will fit into our budget and that maintains the historic fabric of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA.”
The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is self-supporting, not tax supported and relies primarily upon admissions to tour the Ship, sales in the Ship’s Store, donations and investments. No funds for its administration and operation come from appropriations from governmental entities at the local, state or federal levels. Located at the junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River. Visit www.battleshipnc.com or follow us on Facebook.com/ncbb55 and Twitter.com/battleshipnc for more information. Relive with the crew on the Battleship Blog http://seastories.