Energy Fast Facts: Team Tinker meeting goals

Published Oct. 16, 2014
By Brion Ockenfels
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE - Okla. -- October is Energy Action Month. This year's theme, "I am Air Force Energy, Power the Force, Fuel the Fight," focuses awareness on the role each Airman plays in helping the Air Force achieve its energy goals.

"As the No. 1 consumer of energy in the Air Force, Team Tinker is making good progress at meeting its energy goals," said Tinker's Energy Manager, Russ Jennings.

"But we need every Team Tinker Airman, Sailor, employee and contractor on base to help sustain our energy conservation trajectory."

Mandated by the Energy Policy Act, the Air Force needs to reduce energy intensity 30 percent by the year 2015 when compared to the 2003 baseline.

"Through fiscal year 2013, Tinker has reduced its energy intensity 29.5 percent," said Mr. Jennings. "We've smashed the previously established reduction goal of 24 percent from the 2003 baseline."

Additionally, the installation reduced potable water intensity 30.5 percent through fiscal year 2013, more than tripling the 12 percent reduction goal from the 2007 baseline.
The Air Force reduced facility energy intensity 22.3 percent from the same [FY03 - FY13] period, with energy representing about 9 percent of the Air Force budget.
At Tinker, there are 24 energy projects in construction or programmed that are estimated to reduce energy consumption by an additional 95,000 MBtus annually, said Mr. Jennings.

Tinker is evaluating two Energy Savings Performance Contracts and one Utility Energy Savings Contract that have the potential to save approximately 86,000 MBtus annually, enough to power about 23,000 homes a year.

Mr. Jennings said this month's renewed opportunity to promote base energy and water conservation awareness is being led by the Air Force Civil Engineering Center located at Tyndall AFB, Fla.

"Much effort is being put into reducing Tinker's energy footprint," Mr. Jennings said, "and with full cooperation from every member of Team Tinker, we will continue to meet our energy reduction goals.

"To help kick off the rest of your energy conservation year, the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate, along with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, is planning an Energy Awareness Expo at Hollywood and Vine, Bldg. 3001, on Oct. 15," said Mr. Jennings.

For energy saving ideas, more information about Team Tinker's Energy Goals and what you can do to meet those goals in your work centers, contact the Tinker Energy Team at 734-4449, or send your ideas to energy@us.af.mil.