Antonino Piluso: A Puzzle Maker

By MC2 Brianna Green, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command HQ

In Greek mythology, Typhon, a monstrous serpent, attempted to overthrow Zeus for the supremacy of usage by recycling reclaimed water, according to Piluso. Furthermore, by using reclaimed water, the base saves the cosmos. Typhon and Zeus fought in a cataclysmic battle, but Zeus defeated Typhon and buried him underneath Mount Etna. Trapped for thousands of years under the 3,315-meter-high Mount Etna, he would periodically lose his temper and spurt out spectacular columns of fire from one of his 100 dragon heads, explaining years of volcanic activity on the island.

This volcanic activity has provided Sicily with sulfurrich soil that produces some of the best agriculture in the world. However, there are scarce water resources to maintain lush areas. This is what drove the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa Central (EURAFCENT) Public Works Department Sigonella Installation Energy Manager, Antonino Piluso, to create innovative solutions.

“In Sicily it takes a lot to keep the grass green,” said Piluso. “It takes at least six months of irrigation and sometimes even more. Thankfully, the previous installation COs (commanding officers) allowed us to xeriscape.”

Xeriscape is a process that removes green grass and replaces it with white rocks which reduce the overall water consumption. Also, the installation is developing a way to use non-potable water for other irrigation around base.

“We have a project in construction that will treat the grey water we use at NAS I and NAS II,” said Piluso. “It will become almost potable again, and then we use it for irrigation.”

This project can save almost 10% of the annual water usage by recycling reclaimed water, according to Piluso. Furthermore, by using reclaimed water, the base saves electricity and energy used to pump from wells.

In addition to recycling water, Piluso finds other ways to recycle and reduce energy costs.

“Right now, we have to increase the renewable energy usage to 25% in the next four years,” said Piluso. “Also, we have to reduce the total amount of energy we use by 2.5% each year.”

The Navy uses the “Three Pillars of Energy Security” to accomplish this goal: reliability, resilience and efficiency. Developed in 2017, the three pillars set performance benchmarks within the Energy Security Framework.

“We work on energy efficiency, and that means putting projects together that are replacing the energy system to perform the same job but using less energy,” explained Piluso. “We recently replaced 14,000 lighting fixtures and reduced energy by 50%.”

Then, there is the aspect of renewable energy or the reliability portion of the pillars.

“Mainly in Sigonella, we have done solar systems because we live in sunny Sicily,” said Piluso. “This is the most difficult part because it’s easier when you replace something that has to use less energy by fetching a more efficient system. When you have to install a new system, you have footprint issues, have to find the space, and then you have to maintain.”

Funding these projects is another piece of the puzzle to solve. There are several ways to get a project funded, and that’s where Piluso can assist for each tenant command.

“I’m a puzzle maker,” said Piluso “I put the projects together, and I filter out everything that’s not needed. Then, I submit it.”

For example, according to Piluso, one of the largest tenants aboard Sigonella is Defense Logistics Agency Sigonella. Using their agency funds, he was able to install solar panels on their behalf which reduced their annual energy consumption to nearly net zero, meaning they produce as much energy as they use and saved $100,000 in energy costs.

“Thanks to the Navy Advance Metering infrastructure, I can track how much energy everyone is using and how much is produced from renewable projects,” said Piluso. “I can track how much is produced on a cloudy day or instantly see when they’re not working. Catching the maintenance problems as soon as possible can save them (the customer/tenant command) thousands of dollars.”

Although the renewable energy is a cost-saving investment, it also helps the planet. By using the sun to create energy or by recycling water to irrigate the soil, Sigonella’s utilities program is becoming more reliable, resilient and efficient.

So this year, when Typhon rears his monstrous head and belches his anger, trying to deprive his prison of muchneeded water, Piluso will be ready with modern irrigation on his side.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) manages the planning, design, construction, contingency engineering, real estate, environmental, and public works support for U.S. Navy shore facilities around the world. NAVFAC provides the Navy’s forces with the operating, expeditionary, support and training bases that it needs.

NAVFAC is a global organization with an annual volume of business in excess of $18 billion. As a major Navy Systems Command and a member of the Navy and Marine Corps team, NAVFAC delivers timely and effective facilities engineering solutions worldwide.