Energy conservation mission continues through fourth BPA

Published Nov. 5, 2010
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Energy Awareness Month just drew to an end, but the topic is still hot at Tinker. At the end of October, Maj. Gen. David Gillett, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander, announced the center's strategic goals and breakthrough performance areas, or focus areas, for fiscal 2011 through 2016. The fourth BPA is Energy Conservation. By developing a culture change, officials said the BPA is achievable.

Tinker's goal is to reduce electricity usage by 10 percent in fiscal 2011 and by 50 percent by 2016. In the next year, the water usage reduction goal is 25 percent and 65 percent in the next five years.

"We have set stretch goals that are challenging. If we don't meet them, it's not failure. It means we set high expectations," said Thomas "Grif" Griffith, base civil engineer for the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate. "Our biggest challenge over the next year is making energy conservation belong to everybody.

"If everybody were to turn off lights and lower thermostats when their areas are not being used, we could meet every energy goal today," Mr. Griffith said. "We could meet our BPA today."

Tinker's goals are much higher than the Air Force as a whole, which are to reduce energy intensity by 3 percent per year and water usage by 2 percent.

But, Tinker's goals may not be too far out of reach. Through several initiatives, base personnel are already more conscious. To further achieve the goals and make a significant impact, energy team members have identified several projects that will reduce energy consumption and water usage. There are three projects for electricity, water and natural gas categories. Energy officials will measure reduction on a monthly basis.

"The neat part is rather than trying to take a look at everything in fiscal 2011, we put our efforts on trying to achieve our goals using the three greatest opportunities in each area. Once we get these into a steady state, it will be time to pick three more things and we'll do that next year," Mr. Griffith said. "Not only do we want to achieve change, but we want to institutionalize it."

Establishing heating, ventilating and air conditioning set points and setbacks are one way to reduce energy usage at Tinker. The project is part of the electricity-reduction category.

In fiscal 2010, "How Low Can We Go," an electricity-reduction initiative, proved invaluable. It saved the base approximately $220,000. Practiced during holiday weekends, the initiative encouraged personnel to limit energy use, by turning off unnecessary lights and appliances, and lowering thermostats when away from the workplace.

During fiscal 2011, the campaign will be encouraged every weekend. Additionally, workers will be reminded to set the thermostats at 75 degrees during the summer and 68 degrees in the winter.

One way water is reduced, is through a recently improved 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group Chemical Cleaning Shop process. The shop in Bldg. 3001 washes aircraft parts in chemical-laden waters and had used roughly 160 million gallons of water each year. That is until 76th PMXG personnel started monitoring the flow of chemical-cleaning rinse water.

In the first seven days since they changed their procedures, chemical cleaning personnel saved $36,000 in water and wastewater, or 2.2 million gallons of potable water. The new process is estimated to save more than 20 percent of water used by the entire base.

This winter, contractors are expected to break ground on a two-year project to decentralize the steam plants, which fits nicely within the natural gas category. The contractors will install newer and more efficient boilers that will ultimately save Tinker roughly $6 million each year, which equates to a 34-percent reduction in gas, said Britton Young, Tinker's Energy Team point of contact.

"Energy conservation is everyone's responsibility," Mr. Griffith said. "So, look around; try to help and pass your great ideas to the energy team at energy@tinker.af.mil."