Tinker meeting Air Force water, energy goals Published April 26, 2013 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- April is Earth Month and this year the Air Force is celebrating with the theme, "Conserve Today -- Secure Tomorrow." During the month, Air Force officials are encouraging base personnel to focus on conserving potable water and energy usage. By fiscal 2020, the Air Force's goal to reduce potable water consumption by 26 percent and by 2015, reduce energy usage by 30 percent. Tinker is one step ahead of the game as it is already excelling at meeting and possibly surpassing the goals. "Tinker is kicking both of those goals," said Britton Young, Tinker's Energy Team point-of-contact in the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineering Directorate. "We're the only Air Force Materiel Command base that's doing that." To date, Tinker has reduced water consumption by 10 percent and energy usage by 11 percent this fiscal year compared to last. By continuing to detect and fix leaks and repairing infrastructure, Tinker could meet the goal sooner rather than later. "Every Airman can make a difference," she said. "This really is something that's important to the Air Force and it is being emphasized from the top down. Our energy and water are mission enablers and they aren't free. So, whenever we find opportunities to decrease our water consumption or energy usage, we also decrease our spending and that means there's money to put elsewhere to perform the mission." Ms. Young said the smaller issues tend to be costly ones. A running toilet and leaky faucet could double a water bill, but a 15-minute time investment in fixing it could eliminate the extra expense. Conserving energy usage is a matter of being cognizant to the machines in a work area. Turn off lights and appliances and adjust the thermostat when leaving for the day. Unplug and turn off batteries and cell phone chargers. Use power strips and set items to an "energy-saver mode." "It's just about doing the right thing," Ms. Young said. "We know the Air Force has smart and innovative people who will go beyond just the easy things we think about everyday as we fly, fight and win." For more information or to make a suggestion about energy-conservation efforts, send an e-mail to 72abw.ce.energy@tinker.af.mil.