AMC officials sign energy savings contract for McGuire Published Jan. 14, 2010 By 1st Lt. Kathleen Ferrero Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- An energy savings performance contract was signed by Air Mobility Command officials Dec. 23 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The contract implements four energy saving projects at JB McGuire: heat plant decentralization, upgraded high-efficiency lighting, chiller plant improvements and implementation of an energy management system. The move at JB McGuire will reduce the base's energy use by more than 40 percent and save more than $137 million during the contract term. The contract allows for a third party to finance the project up front, while Air Force officials pay the money back with interest over a 19-year period, said Stephen Kalmer, the AMC energy manager. Because the new localized high-efficiency boilers are more energy efficient and will require fewer resources, the contract stipulates the expected savings are projected to completely fund the infrastructure upgrade, including the interest owed, Mr. Kalmer said. The current centralized plant pushes high-temperature hot water through underground pipes across JB McGuire, which spans more than 5 million square feet and houses more than 250 buildings. The new decentralized plan will consist of approximately 100 localized, high-efficiency boilers located in each building, Mr. Kalmer said. This would eliminate the need to pump scalding hot water through miles of piping inside cold earth, saving money on the energy required to keep it hot until it gets to its destination. It also promises to save on the parts and manpower required to maintain these pipes, as well as what it takes to maintain the current central plant's huge boilers. The contract guarantees important infrastructure improvements despite shrinking appropriations, Mr. Kalmer said. Such improvements are especially important for JB McGuire, which became jointly based with Fort Dix and Naval Air Station Lakehurst Oct. 1.