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Energy use sees steady reduction, still room to improve

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Energy usage at Tinker Air Force Base has been reduced by a significant amount in recent years. Water consumption, though, which had shrunk by more than one-fourth, soared this year to previous levels.

Congressional mandates and executive orders require significant increases in energy and water conservation and in renewable energy sources. Consequently, the Air Force is compelled to lower facility energy usage by 30 percent by 2015, and to reduce water consumption by 16 percent by 2015.

According to Britton Young, Energy Team point-of-contact in the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate, Tinker AFB is more than halfway toward meeting the energy goal. Data indicate the base's energy consumption (for electricity and natural gas) averaged 228 million Btus per square foot in fiscal 2003, but was down to 178 million Btus per square foot in fiscal 2011, a decline of 22 percent.

Water consumption at Tinker declined for two consecutive years but rose again this year, Ms. Young's records reflect.

From a baseline level of 4,050 gallons per 1,000 square feet of facility space in fiscal 2007, consumption dropped to 3,500 per 1,000 in 2009, and even further, to 2,990 gallons per 1,000 square feet, in 2010. However, usage jumped back up to 4,000 gallons per 1,000 square feet of facility space in fiscal 2011, apparently because of scorching summer temperatures aggravated by a prolonged drought.

Tinker's utility bills for water, electricity and natural gas run about $44 million annually -- $120,000 per day -- Ms. Young said. Tinker consumes, on average, 68 million gallons of water each month, she said.

At least one unit at Tinker has reduced its water usage substantially.

Earlier this year, subject-matter experts discussed the chemical clean process by which aircraft and engine parts proceed through a series of chemical tanks for cleaning and paint removal.

Richard Renfro, a 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group process engineer, worked with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center command and the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate on a chem-clean process rapid improvement event.

At one time the shop had used 160 million gallons of water in a year. After implementing some changes in the process, usage was trimmed but the shop still accounted for approximately 25 percent of all water consumed at Tinker.

Knowing that the shop is slated for a major renovation starting in fiscal 2012, the SMEs held a brainstorming session to discuss short-term solutions that could be added to the current process and long-term options that could be integrated during the overhaul.

Mr. Renfro said the team discovered several solutions for reducing potable water consumption. As a result, since the RIE the daily volume of water consumed in the chemical clean line has shrunk by 69 percent.

In recognition of the achievement, Col. Stephen Wood, vice commander of the 72nd ABW, presented specially minted commemorative coins to several members of the chem-clean process improvement team.

The award ceremony was performed in conjunction with the annual Energy Expo held Oct. 6 in Bldg. 3001, during which several vendors provided information about energy-saving practices and equipment.

With Energy Awareness Month being observed in October, Tinker energy officials have scheduled several activities that highlight the Air Force stance on energy and its three goals: reduce demand, increase supply and modify the culture.

Besides the Energy Expo, a "Powering the Future" science project sponsored by the 4-H was hosted by the Tinker Youth Center. Using kits, children 6 to 12 years old built hand-held wind turbines connected to volt meters. By examining the output from turbines that had different numbers and sizes of blades pointed in different directions, the participants learned which units were most efficient.