GreenUp Whiteman! October is Energy Action Month

  • Published
  • By Ivonne Bates
  • 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Resource Efficiency Manager
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  October is Energy Action Month, a time dedicated to encourage energy awareness and turn that awareness into action.

The Air Force theme this year is "Power the Force. Fuel the Fight - I am Air Force Energy" and focuses on the role Airmen play in energy conservation.

In an effort to continue working towards the base's energy reduction goals, one of the many initiatives is to build new facilities using green construction standards. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, created by the United States Green Building Council, is one way of meeting our goals.

Recently Whiteman received the first LEED Gold certification for the construction of the new Explosive Ordnance Disposal building. Whiteman also received our first LEED Silver certification with the construction of the new Communications building.

The LEED process includes several categories with different qualifying factors used to assess the building's green features. For instance, newly constructed facilities, such as the EOD facility, certain criteria have to be included in order for the project to meet the certification criteria.

The LEED program works on a point system and has four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. For Gold certification points would be between 60 and 79.

One of the many benefits of the LEED program is standardizing what a green building really is. Building to a LEED certification takes careful planning and design by engineers and architects. By using LEED, Whiteman will have healthier buildings that cost less to maintain over time.

Throughout the month, the Whiteman's Energy Management Program Office will integrate energy management training for base facility managers. They will also hold discussions with leadership at the Energy Management Steering Group on the key initiatives for the energy program.

The Energy Management Program Office also invites Team Whiteman to become fans of the new Whiteman Energy Management Program Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WhitemanEnergyProgram.