Energy measures reduce bills on/off base Published Oct. 20, 2007 By Daylon Edmisten 509th Civil Engineer Squadron WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Since October is National Energy Conservation Month, hopefully everyone connected with the base is accomplishing something to aid in the conservation of energy both at home and at work. If you are not focused on energy conservation, now is the time to start. In an effort to strengthen energy conservation and efficiency within federal agencies, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13423 Jan. 24. Whiteman's energy strategy is to reduce demand, increase supply and change our energy culture. This supports the president's new goals and helps to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil. Conserving energy is not that difficult of a task. You need only make a conscience effort to do something. This can be as simple as turning off a light when you leave a room, or walking up a flight of stairs instead of taking an elevator, or closing that exterior door that's propped open during heating/cooling season. Turning off overhead lighting and using task lighting to light only the needed area - which works at both home and office - keeping the heating and cooling to a minimum by putting on a sweater in the winter and using shades or curtains to keep sun light out in the summer are called "no cost/low cost" efforts. By combining your small "no cost/low cost" measures with others, the savings can be significant. At off base homes, doing simple energy measures results in the reward of reduced energy bills. The reduced bills enable you to spend more money on the things that matter to you. The same holds true about reducing energy while on base. Considering that in fiscal year 2007 Whiteman spent $7.3 million on utility consumption, a mere one-half of a percent decrease in energy use results in a savings of $36,500. It doesn't take long to realize some significant savings. Cutting our energy usage by one-half of one percent is doable if we all do our part. This past year Whiteman's utility budget was reduced by five percent. Shortly after that happened, Air Combat Command headquarters announced bases could keep any savings in utility costs for use in energy conservation projects. These energy conservation projects will not only reduce energy, but also improve working conditions on base. The 509th Civil Engineer Squadron is in the process of upgrading the base infrastructure with these savings. According to Maj. Bryan Opperman, 509th CES operations flight commander, projects targeted with these funds include water line replacements, steam line upgrades affecting heating and air conditioning systems and airfield lighting system upgrades. These projects were realized, in part, by your efforts on the energy front. Two of the identified projects will affect the base water plant and the base steam plant. Circulating pumps will be installed in the return steam lines to improve the flow of steam back to the steam plant. By doing this, the return steam can be reused and reduce the need for additional water and natural gas to heat the water into steam. The airfield taxiway lighting system is also being targeted. The existing incandescent lighting on one of the taxiways will be converted to LED lights. These newer lights will not only use half the electricity but will be brighter. The money saved each year by efforts such as these will be put back into other energy conservation initiatives thereby continuing our outstanding conservation trends. In order for Whiteman to continue in its effort to reduce energy consumption, everyone needs to make a conscience effort to succeed. Remember that energy conservation is a team effort. Everyone, from individuals to squadrons, needs to do their part. By making that conscience effort to do something, you can help to reduce energy usage.