A 'STAR' is born at 72nd MDG

Published July 22, 2011
By Brian Schroeder
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 72nd Medical Group took the initiative to reduce their piece of the total amount of energy Tinker consumes each year, and will soon be awarded ENERGY STAR facility status.

Tinker consumes more energy than any other U.S. Air Force base because of large-scale industrial processes performed here.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for nearly half of all energy consumption in the U.S., more than any other sector of the economy, and costing more than $200 billion per year.
Across the Air Force, all medical groups have become involved in the ENERGY STAR facility rating program. According to its website, an ENERGY STAR certified facility meets strict energy performance standards set by EPA and uses less energy, is less expensive to operate and causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its peers.

At the annual Air Force Medical Facility Manager's Conference, each facility is given a rating based on annual energy usage. In 2009, Tinker ranked 59 out of 64 Air Force medical clinics and hospitals for energy usage and efficiency. This year, Tinker is tied for having the second most energy efficient medical facility in the Air Force. The main reason for such drastic energy reduction: turning off the lights.

Robert Lewis, assistant medical facility manager, said Tinker's medical facility is a 52-year-old building that downsized from a hospital to a clinic in 1999. However, it was not until 2009, after receiving a low rating on energy savings that the medical facility, looked into how they could cut energy use.

The 72nd Medical Group and contractors began brainstorming. Mr. Lewis said the medical group found abandoned and unused medical equipment that was left over from the hospital that was still plugged in, draining electricity for 12 years. Unplugging the machines contributed to a 44 percent reduction in the med group's energy usage last year.

"We started looking around and realized we have around 70 light blubs burning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because they don't have a switch," Mr. Lewis said. "There might be one or no light switches on the second floor because we never turned the lights out. We fixed that by calling the electrician and they installed a switch for us. Now we actually turn those lights out."

Other initiatives included shutting down three unused hot water tanks, replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, repairing leaky pipes under the crawlspace of the building, shutting down a continuously running medical vacuum system, regulating the climate to a proper temperature during the summer and winter months, and weather stripping mechanical rooms to keep heat from escaping.

"There is always something to be learned," said Capt. Erin Rivas, medical logistics flight commander. "Some of the other older buildings on base may have some of the same things going on. Unless you investigate some of these things, they will not come to light. You have to dig a little deeper than just turning out your light."

Energy usage in medical buildings across the Air Force is tracked based on total floor space and energy used in one fiscal year. During 2010, the average reduction was 15.7 percent across all 64 Air Force medical facilities. Tinker was only one of three facilities in the Air Force to meet the ENERGY STAR requirements, receiving a rating of 75, with a 44 percent reduction in adjusted energy use. The average ENRGY STAR rating Air Force wide is 36.

"Across the Air Force as a whole there are many inpatient facilities that have gone down to clinics," Mr. Lewis said. "How many of them have not gone back and looked at hot water tanks and medical vacuums and lights that stay on 24 hours a day? If all of these clinics go back and look at these things and all save 44 percent in energy costs, that's a lot of savings across the Air Force, and a lot of money saved by tax payers."

A monthly newsletter created by the Facility Management Office which contains energy saving tips and reminders is sent out to all medical group personnel. The newsletter also reminds Airmen and civilian contractors to turn off lights and computer monitors when they are not in use. Mr. Lewis said the housekeepers, who are the last to leave at night, ensure all lights in the building are turned off before they leave.

"We started looking at other things and asking ourselves what we could do different as an outpatient clinic that we were not doing as an inpatient hospital and needed certain service," Mr. Lewis said. "Shutting down and turning things off that were no longer in use is basically free. Now we are reaping the benefits from energy savings."

In fall 2011, the Med Group will be moving to a new medical facility and the newly ENERGY STAR rated building will be demolished. The new facility will be built to U.S. Green Building Council standards with potential for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification.

"We will take a lot of the lessons learned from here and make sure we do things smartly and continue to maintain our building and keep it nice," Captain Rivas said. "We have this great new building and we need to take care of it for years to come."

"It's not any one person, flight or squadron, it's the group as a whole that makes a difference," Mr. Lewis said. "It takes everybody's input and everybody doing what they need to do to make a difference."

To receive information regarding what your office or building can do to become more energy efficient, or to suggest how Tinker can become "greener," send an email to energy@tinker.af.mil.