125 Maiden Lane gets free greening -Texas outfit will do the $1.4 million job and pocket the 24% cost savings over the first decade, with aid of some financial backing from the city

http://sallan.org/pdf-docs/NYCEEC_125MaidenLane.pdf 

A downtown office building will get a free energy-saving retrofit worth $1.4 million. The gift comes from a company that assumes financial risk for such renovations and a New York City agency.

The retrofit project utilizes a structure for funding energy efficiency called a Managed Energy Services Agreement (MESA), offered to property owners by Transcend Equity and its joint venture partner, Mitsui & Co (USA), Inc (Mitsui USA). Under the MESA structure, project costs are repaid only through energy cost savings generated by the retrofits. The New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation's (NYCEEC) participation, backstopping the projected energy savings, helped enable Transcend Equity to close the funding necessary for the retrofit project. The retrofit measures will include installation of a state of the art direct digital controls backbone, an automated building management system, high efficiency motors with variable speeds, new steam valves and other upgrades. An energy audit, required as a condition of financing, indicated the project will save 24 percent in total energy usage at 125 Maiden Lane.

125 Maiden Lane is a 320,000 square foot commercial condominium office building. Most of the building’s energy systems date to the time of its construction in 1958. It is home to several local and international non-profits.  MESA does not place debt on a building and does not violate tenant leases, allowing a building’s occupants a greener, more efficient building at no additional cost to its owners. The 125 Maiden Lane retrofit is the first MESA transaction in a New York City building. NYCEEC expects to play a similar
enabling role in many other comprehensive retrofit projects in the future.
...
“We evaluated a variety of retrofit funding options before selecting MESA,” said Rick Recny, Director of Asset Management for Time Equities, Managing Agent for both the Condominium and the Sponsor. “It shifts the performance risk and funding responsibility away from the office condominium unit owners....

“NYCEEC played a critical role in this transaction and really showed it has the capacity to help bring the energy efficiency market to scale,” said Steve Gossett Jr, Vice President of Transcend Equity. “We are already preparing a series of additional, much larger transactions in New York City for which we’ll seek the same catalytic NYCEEC participation....

...

Transcend Equity will pay for the work, and then hope to make its money by pocketing the energy-cost savings the retrofit generates over a set period of time. The attraction for building owners is that they reap the cost savings after the contract with Transcend Equity expires. In the case of 125 Maiden Lane, the contract runs for ten years.

“We take on a huge amount of risk,” said Sean Patrick Neill, managing director of Transcend. “It's good for the owners, because we pay for things they were thinking about fixing any way.”

This is the eight-year-old company's first project in New York City. Most of Transcend Equity's projects range from $2 million to $10 million.
...
To help foster the project, the city's Energy Efficiency Corp. agreed to back up 20% of the loan—about $190,000 worth—that Transcend Equity is taking out to finance the renovations.  The lender, BB&T Bank, wanted the additional security, said Fred Lee, director of legal affairs and finance at the city's Energy Efficiency Corp. The city monies are coming from a $37.5 million federal grant designed to promote retrofitting and sustainability in the city.
Time Equities had long wanted to renovate the building, but the condo owners ... didn't want to spend the money.

 

New York City established the NYCEEC earlier this year in an effort to achieve the ambitious energy goals included in Mayor Bloomberg's long-term planning effort, PlaNYC.  NYCEEC, which was initially capitalized with $37.5 million in funding under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), is scrambling to spark a modest revolution in the market for energy-efficiency retrofit financing for private building owners. In particular, NYCEEC aims to support a portfolio of energy-efficiency financing products to drive energy efficiency investment in the Big Apple.

 

Neill believes the MESA model will solve a problem that does not yet technically exist, but almost certainly will by the end of 2012. That problem is a consequence of the so-called accounting convergence in the works at the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Norwalk, Conn.  The convergence is likely to make it very difficult (but not impossible according to Neill) to secure off balance-sheet financing for investments in energy-efficiency building retrofits. 

 

http://sallan.org/pdf-docs/NYCEEC_125MaidenLane.pdf December 15, 2011

"125 Maiden Lane gets free greening -Texas outfit will do the $1.4 million job and pocket the 24% cost savings over the first decade, with aid of some financial backing from the city" By Theresa Agovino 

Crains New York www.crainsnewyork.com December 23, 2011http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20111223/REAL_ESTATE/111229922

Green-Energy Finance Guru: 'We've cracked the code.' By William Pentland; Forbes via Yahoo Finance http://news.yahoo.com, December 15, 2011 http://news.yahoo.com/green-energy-finance-guru-weve-cracked-code-021259132.html 

Commercial energy efficiency retrofits in the Greater Philadelphia region could spur $618 million in local spending, support 23,500 jobs

http://gpichub.org/hublog/commercial-energy-efficiency-retrofits-in-region-could-spur-618-million-in-local-spending-support-23-500-jobs
A report released on November 6, 2011 estimates that nearly half of the commercial buildings in the Greater Philadelphia region are good candidates for energy efficiency retrofits, and that undertaking these retrofits could spur $618 million in local spending and support 23,500 jobs. Another report details the policies and programs already undertaken in the region to encourage retrofits, and outlines additional proven steps that could help the region take advantage of this economic opportunity.

“These reports provide ample evidence that the Philadelphia region is well-situated to take advantage of the economic opportunities inherent in energy efficiency retrofits. Removing barriers and employing new policy tools to spur retrofits will not only save energy, but also grow jobs and stimulate the regional economy” said Dr. Mark Alan Hughes of the University of Pennsylvania, and leader of the Policy, Markets and Behavior task team for the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) for Energy-Efficient Buildings, which commissioned the reports.

GPIC is a consortium of 24 institutions funded by $129 million in U.S. Department of Energy and other federal funds to create an Energy Innovation Hub at The Navy Yard. GPIC’s goals are to transform the building retrofit industry toward an integrated systems approach, to improve design tools, building systems, public policies, market incentives, and workforce skills needed to achieve a 50 percent reduction of energy use in buildings, and to stimulate private investment and quality job creation in Greater Philadelphia and beyond.

“The Market for Commercial Property Energy Retrofits in the Philadelphia Region”, conducted by Econsult Corporation, identifies 47 percent of the commercial and flex-industrial space between 20,000 and 100,000 square feet in the Philadelphia area for which data is available as potential candidates for energy retrofits. The eligible space includes 4,201 buildings with 154m square feet of space. The report compiled information on commercial building age, type, enclosure, materials, energy load, and owner concentration in the region.

The second report, authored by Cozen O’Connor staff, is entitled “Policy and Process Factors Impacting Commercial Building Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”. The factors examined include laws, regulations, financial incentives, contracts, public bidding requirements and more. The study concluded that while Pennsylvania and New Jersey have enacted many of the available policy levers that could help encourage energy efficiency retrofits, there are still numerous direct and indirect barriers in place.

Additionally, the study found that processes necessary for full valuation of energy efficiency improvements are immature, causing increased transaction costs and making investments less valuable.
...
The typical Philadelphia commercial property spends $2.84/ft per foot per year on energy costs. By contrast, the average U.S. commercial property spends $2.21 per foot per year. Thus, Philadelphia’s energy expenditures are 29% above than the national average, and the fourth highest among 14 large cities studied as shown in the table below.

To narrow the universe to identify the "lowest hanging fruit," the study filtered properties by their end use, construction materials, and shape. The optimal candidate for energy improvements would be an older, low-rise brick building.

Not all buildings consume energy equally. Flex-industrial buildings, including warehouses, account for about 53 percent of the structures studied. But they consume about half the energy per square foot as the average commercial building, such as an office.

The study identified 2,047 buildings as retail, hospitality, or health-care businesses, which consume more energy, according to federal statistics cited by Econsult.

The authors said that lower-rise buildings - with fewer than six floors - are more cost-effective candidates for improvements.  Using data and findings from Emmerich, et al that suggest primary energy savings (HVAC) from reducing air infiltration averages 20-30% is only cost-effective for low-to-mid-rise buildings of five stories or less, the authors determined that buildings five stories or below in height are likely candidates for envelope or enclosure improvements, irrespective of age.

Buildings that depend on electric lighting rather than daylight for interior illumination are good candidates for improvements.  According to the Energy Star building manual (2006), electric lighting accounts for upwards of 35% of electricity use in commercial buildings.  If more than 50% of a building’s floor area is not daylit, then the building must necessarily utilize an above-average amount of synthetic lighting as a necessary substitute, and hence it is likely to cost-effectively benefit from an energy load retrofit.

Masonry buildings are likelier to have more exterior gaps and benefit from improvements rather than steel-and-glass buildings.

The authors narrowed the focus to those buildings owned by the 25 largest commercial landlords for the "purely practical" reason that it will be easier for GPIC to deal with a few owners of multiple properties if its goal is to maximize its impact.

It whittled the prime list down to 232 larger buildings totaling about 50 million square feet, mostly in the commercial corridors of inner-ring suburbs such as Pennsauken, Valley Forge, Plymouth Meeting, Malvern, and Mount Laurel. The buildings were also concentrated in industrial corridors in Thorofare, Bridgeport, Hamilton, Bristol, Northeast Philadelphia near Philadelphia International Airport, and at the Navy Yard.

The reports and supporting materials can be found at https://gpichub.org/activities/policy/gpic-reports.

Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) http://gpichub.org 

November 6, 2011

U.S. Treasury Building Becomes Oldest in World to Receive LEED Certification

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/21/treasury-green-our-favorite-color-well-take-leed-gold
... The Treasury Building – which dates back to the 19th century and is located right next door to the White House – received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) at a ceremony on [December 21, 2011....]

According to the USGBC, the Treasury Building is believed to be the oldest building in the world to receive LEED certification....

LEED is a leading international standard for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. The Treasury Building received its LEED Gold certification based on a number of green construction and operation features, including:

• Increasing the use of natural day lighting to reduce energy consumption;
• Establishing sustainable cleaning and landscape programs;
• Developing and implementing advanced control and management of the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems;
• Conducting waste stream audits to benchmark recycling programs and identify opportunities to maximize material conservation;
• Creating a green procurement program for materials, equipment and services purchased
• Increasing occupant space utilization;
• Augmenting alternate transportation means; and
• Establishing enhanced utility metering for improved systems management

... Going green saves green for taxpayers. Project results, which are producing an estimated $3.5 million in energy and lease cost savings annually, include:

• A 43 percent decrease in the use of potable water
• A 7 percent decrease in electrical usage
• A 53 percent decrease in the use of steam
• The addition of 164 additional workstations within the building

The fact that ... the unique historical and architectural features of the Treasury Building [is significant].  The Treasury Building is more than two city blocks long and was constructed over a period of 33 years between 1836 and 1869. The east and center wings – which comprise the oldest portion of the structure – were designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument, and were built between 1836 to 1842. It’s the third-oldest federal building in Washington D.C., after the White House and the U.S. Capitol, and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1972.

..The improvements ... are part of a broader Administration-wide effort, which includes President Obama’s recent $2 billion commitment to energy upgrades of federal buildings using long term energy savings to pay for up-front costs, at no cost to taxpayers.

... Treasury’s environmental initiatives represent just a few of the steps ... taken to cut waste and improve efficiency.

• [The] transition to electronic payments for federal beneficiaries and retirees ... will save more than $500 million over the first five years. That also has a significant environmental benefit by converting approximately 135 million paper check payments to electronic payments per year.
• Last week, Vice President Biden and Secretary Geithner announced that the United States Mint is suspending production of surplus Presidential $1 Coins for circulation, which will save at least $50 million annually over the next several years.
• The Department’s work to increase e-filing of tax returns will save more than $100 million over five years.
• A set of projects [being implemented] to consolidate IT services will save an estimated $125 million over five years.
• Earlier this year, Treasury received “green” ratings across-the-board on its energy and sustainability scorecard from the Office of Management and Budget and White House Council on Environmental Quality.

by Dan Tangherlini, U.S. Department of Treasury, Assistant Secretary for Management, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Performance Officer, and Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
The White House Blog http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog
December 21, 2011
via/Hat Tip: Susan Axelrod, Clean Techies/Linked In http://tiny.cc/rmtte

Saving Energy in Affordable Homes: $300 - $500/Year

http://www.swinter.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/WGJune2011.pdf
About a year ago, Rural Development, Inc. (RDI) completed construction of the 20-home project “Wisdom Way Solar Village” in Greenfield, MA. The project is a mix of affordable and market-rate homes, and it was RDI’s latest effort in approaching “zero energy” homes. Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program, Steve Winter Associates (SWA) provided support during the design and construction....

The home’s envelopes are ... efficient with R-40 walls, triple-pane windows, and R-50 attic insulation.... With both solar electric and solar water heating systems, SWA estimated total gas and electricity bills for the homes would be less than $500 per year. Now, after several homes have been occupied for a full year or more, the predictions look quite accurate.

Average annual gas and electric bills for eight homes were $401 (ranging from $324 to $485 — including service charges of $140 per year). Because of the PV systems and efficient use of electricity, most residents actually had a net credit from the electric utility over the past year.

Overall, this development is an excellent example of nearing “zero energy” in homes with good design and simple, cost-effective systems.

At http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-news/deep-energy-savings-wisdom-way-solar-village Richard Defendorf noted ... exterior walls are insulated to R-40 with 12 in. of blown-in cellulose, the roof to R-52 with 14 in. of cellulose, and the floor to R-38 with 11 in. of cellulose. Triple-pane windows were used throughout. Heat is provided by a Monitor Products GFI1800 gas space heater located in the central area of the first floor of each house. Each home also is equipped with an exhaust-only ventilation system and an additional interior fan that draws air from the ceiling of the first floor and redistributes it to each bedroom.... The airtight and well-insulated building envelopes keep the design heat loads of the houses at less than 12,000 Btu per hour. The gas heater capacity ranges from 10,200 Btu on low fire to 16,000 Btu on high fire. Prices for the houses ranged from $110,000 (for a two-bedroom) to $170,000 (four-bedroom) in the low-income category and $150,000 to $210,000 for moderate-income buyers. A two-bedroom market rate home was priced at $210,000 and a three-bedroom was listed at $240,000.

For more information contact Robb Aldrich at raldrich@swinter.com or visit http://www.ruraldevelopmentinc.org/index-wwsv.htm.

Winter Green http://www.swinter.com/resources-newsletters-wintergreen.htm
Steven Winter Associates www.SWinter.com
Volume 12, Issue 6; June, 2011

Financial viability of energy-efficiency measures in a new detached house design in Finland

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261911006830
Abstract: This study analyses alternative energy-saving design concepts for a typical new detached house design in Finland. The impact of these design concepts on the construction costs and on the total delivered energy needs of the building were calculated, and the financial viability of the different concepts analysed. Different thermal insulation and airtightness properties of the building envelope and different ventilation’s heat recovery efficiency assumptions were tested in the analysis work. Other variations modelled included the heating mode: direct electrical floor heating, or floor heating via an air or ground source heat pump. Among these alternatives, the estimated annual consumption of purchased energy for running the household varied extensively, in the range 57–182 kW h/net floor m2. With the real interest rate set at 3%, the payback period was shortest for the air source heat pumps (9 years). When a heat pump was installed in a house with higher energy consumption, the payback period was 7 years, and if it was installed in the ‘ultra low-energy’ house designs, the payback period was over 13 years. Investment to thick thermal insulation of envelope was unattractive in Finland. The results of this study can be generalized to similar climates and techno-economic environments.

by Arto Saari 1, Targo Kalamees 2 and 3, Juha Jokisalo 2, Rasmus Michelsson 1, Kari Alanne 2, Jarek Kurnitski 4
1. Aalto University, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, PO Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
2. Palto University, School of Engineering, Department of Energy Technology, PO Box 14400, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
3. Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Structural Design, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
4. Finnish Innovative Fund, PO Box 160, FI-00181 Helsinki, Finland
Applied Energy via Elsevier Science Direct www.ScienceDirect.com
Volume 92; April 2012; Pages 76-83
Keywords: Energy efficiency; Financial viability; Building simulations; New construction; Detached house

An Analysis of Radiant Barriers Finds Significant Energy Savings

http://www.swinter.com/Collateral/Documents/English-US/PWJuly2011.pdf
Steven Winter Associates (SWA) recently evaluated the energy penalty associated with the recessed convectors found in many older masonry buildings. In this construction, the heating source is partially buried in an uninsulated wall. After a collaboration with Jonathan Flothow of The Steam Balancing Company (http:// steambalancing.com/), [they quantified] the benefits of ... [installing] a double bubble foil radiant barrier behind convectors to minimize heat loss to the outside. For the analysis, SWA assumed an average winter temperature of 35° F (NYC average winter) and an average convector surface temperature of 110° F (which accounts for some hours where the convector is not filled with steam).

They looked at a building section that is typical to many older pre-war buildings with a 3 wythe-brick bearing wall and recessed cast iron convectors. Energy modeling and analysis was performed using THERM v6.3. Simulations were run analyzing heat transfer across the wall assembly with and without the radiant barrier.

The model demonstrated savings due to the radiant barrier of approximately 3.4 herms, or 2.25 gals of #2 fuel oil, per typical convector over the course of a 160-day heating season. At current NYC fuel prices, fixing this energy loss equates to an operating cost savings of approximately $9.70/convector for an oil heated building and $4.50/convector for a gas heated building. At an installed cost of approximately $23/convector, these savings would result in simple payback periods of 2 – 5 years. The $23 installed cost is based on a bid by a NYC plumbing contractor coordinating radiant barrier installation work with other plumbing work. If work is performed by in-house maintenance staff, the installed cost is only a few dollars for materials per convector.
Operational variables will, of course, impact real world results. This model is built upon a 24/7 convector run-time during a 160-day heating season. In the real world, occupants may valve-off convectors in an effort to reduce over-heating in their dwelling unit; the extent to which this happens was not quantified. Also, the effect of dust accumulation on the vertical radiant barrier is unclear. Studies of horizontally installed attic radiant barriers performed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have determined a decrease in the effectiveness of radiant barriers by approximately 20% over time due to dust build up. With this in mind, it is reasonable to expect a dust-related degradation of radiant barrier effectiveness over the course of several years that may impact realized energy savings. Related to this, a maintenance plan may be necessary to remove dust every few years.

Initial indicators demonstrate that the installation of a post-convector radiant barrier is a cost-effective energy conservation measure, especially in buildings that use expensive heating fuels such as #2 oil. Further investigation is planned for the upcoming heating season in an effort to true-up model data with real world temperature data.

Steven Winter Associates (SWA) www.swinter.com
Party Walls
Volume 7, Issue 7; July, 2011; Page 1

A study on the optimum insulation thicknesses of various types of external walls with respect to different materials, fuels and climate zones in Turkey

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261911006593
Abstract: In Turkey the insulation of buildings was not a common occurrence until it became obligatory after the publication of the TS 825 Turkish Thermal Insulation Standard. However, most of the buildings still have little or no insulation. The aim of this study is to show the optimum insulation thicknesses for the different wall types; stone, brick and concrete, which are usually used in building construction in Turkey. Four cities from different climate zones, determined by the Turkish Thermal Insulation Standard (TS 825); Antalya (1st zone), İstanbul (2nd zone), Elazığ (3rd zone) and Kayseri (4th zone) were selected for analysis, and the optimum insulation thicknesses, energy savings and payback periods were calculated for each. Fiberglass, extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene and foamed polyurethane were the chosen insulation materials. The calculations were carried out with five different energy types; coal, LPG, electricity, fuel oil, and natural gas. As a consequence the results show that the optimum insulation thickness varies between 0.2 cm and 18.6 cm, energy savings vary between 0.038 $/m2 and 250.415 $/m2, and payback periods vary between 0.714 and 9.104 years depending on the city, the type of wall, the insulation material and the cost of fuel.

by Betul Bektas Ekici, Ayca Aytac Gulten, U. Teoman Aksoy; all of the Department of Construction Education, Firat University, Elazıg 23119, Turkey; Tel.: +90 424 2370000x4316.
Applied Energy via Elsevier Science Direct www.ScienceDirect.com
Volume 92; April, 2012; Pages 211-217
Keywords: Insulation; Optimum insulation thickness; Energy saving; Life cycle cost; Payback period

Adobe-style builds ensure greater efficiencies in Afghanistan

http://www.army.mil/article/69907/Adobe_style_builds_ensure_greater_efficiencies_in_Afghanistan/
Adobe-style building structures are becoming more commonplace as coalition strategists see them as being better suited for the Afghan National Security Forces.

Such builds, for example, are being incorporated with the 4th Zone Afghan Border Police, Injil District of Herat Province in western Afghanistan. But that is not the only place, as they are becoming more popular across the country spurred by the deadline to transition responsibilities for security in Afghanistan to Afghan forces by 2014.

At the 4thZone AFB compound, the adobe-style construction using mud/clay/straw is prevalent. This offers reduced costs and provides the Afghan National Security Forces with sustainable, locally repairable construction. The easier maintenance generates lower lifecycle costs.

The builds have many advantages and do not incorporate western-style construction, which does not offer Afghans the ability to easily repair, maintain, and save money in the long term.

"Our Afghan contractors came to us and said they didn't understand containerized builds and that they could have built a more permanent concrete masonry unit structure cheaper and in less time," explained Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Overtree, senior engineer for Regional Support Command-West. "We further looked around and asked why are we making [western builds in] a country where only 13 percent of the population has electrical power or air-conditioning?"

Afghan-style facilities and customs are not familiar to western engineers, so U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Air Force Center for Engineering Excellence and our Coalition partners initially built what they knew, Overtree said.

However, as long-term concerns are taken into consideration, this Regional Support Command initiative of adobe-style builds make the most sense for several reasons.

"First and foremost it is what the Afghans and their contractors know," Overtree said. "Prime example, we were constructing a project and were approached by the garrison commander, an infantry colonel, who told us about a problem with the Afghan mud on one of the buildings. Not only did he know there was a problem, he knew what was causing the problem and where to find the proper materials to fix the problem."

Many times the Afghans don't know there is a problem with western builds until they completely fail, and then they don't how to fix the problem, Overtree explained.

And, the Afghan-style builds are easy to maintain, using local materials and labor, even troop labor, he said.

With the Afghan-style builds, the two-foot thick masonry walls used provide a high "R-Value" which results a very low transfer of heat, Overtree said.

The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. Under uniform conditions it is the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator and heat transfer per unit area, internet sources stated.

"In layman's terms without any form of air-conditioning, there is a 20 to 25 degree fahrenheit difference between the inside and outside of the building at the hottest and coldest parts of the day," Overtree said of the adobe builds. "This means only fans and pot-belly wood stoves are needed for heating and cooling. This is the same way the Afghans heat and cool their homes."

The buildings take advantage and match the local environment, something the West forgot 70 years ago when we discovered air-conditioning, he said.

"Prior to the 1940s, we built houses and buildings to match the environment, Cape Cods, Plantation houses, haciendas, etc.," Overtree said.

The builds are also natural bunkers with the two-foot thick walls, Overtree said. They can take multiple rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire and can easily be repaired afterward.

Additionally, from an economic view, the builds offer incredible savings.

"On average, based on comparable projects built by the US Corps of Engineers and Air Force Center for Engineering Excellence, these RSC adobe builds save 75 percent of the life cycle costs," Overtree said. "This means for the projects we have done this year using this concept, we will save over $1 billion over the life of the facilities."

Any disadvantages?

Apparently not. "That's why they have been building this way for millennia," he said.

The dividends are evident at the 4th Zone Afghan Border Police compound.

The 1,900-man compound is low energy and efficient, currently powered only by a 33 kilowatt generator, Overtree said.

By Jon Connor, DCOM-Regional Support, NTM-A/CSTC-A Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army www.army.mil
November 25, 2011