Focus on sustainability and energy efficiency wins Air Force Federal Energy awards

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Three Air Force bases earned recognition from the Department of Energy for their conservation efforts. 

Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Dyess AFB, Texas, and Kadena AB, Japan, are 2009 Federal Energy and Water Management Award winners, and their combined efforts saved the Air Force more than $2.2 million and enough energy to power 4,243 homes for a year. 

"Barksdale is honored to receive this recognition for a team effort in reducing energy costs, ensuring readiness, and conserving America's resources," said Larry Stevens, the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron base resource efficiency manager. 

The squadron reduced energy more than 7 percent in 2008 by implementing numerous projects focusing on heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and lighting. 2nd CES officials used time scheduling and temperature controls, along with more efficient boilers and hot water heaters, to reduce energy consumption. They also insulated thousands of feet of chilled water and replaced old and inefficient lighting with new fluorescent lighting systems. These efforts saved Barksdale AFB more than $595,000 in utility costs. 

Dyess AFB energy managers, engineers and contracting officials reduced energy consumption 16.5 percent and saved more than $1 million in 2008. 

"The achievement at Dyess was the result of a team of people working together to accomplish great things," said Tom Denslow, the Dyess AFB energy manager. 

The team replaced a chilled water system with an efficient, variable-flow refrigerant HVAC system. They added "smart" controls at a dormitory to reduce heating and cooling during unoccupied times. They installed ceramic coating to 35,000 square feet of roof. The team also established a new base energy policy that created more than three months of no-heat and no-cool periods. They discovered and repaired natural gas leaks on an aging system that saved up to $60,000 per month and reduced the electric costs by 20 percent. 

Department of Energy officials are also recognizing energy conservation efforts at Kadena AB where a 3 percent energy reduction resulted in savings of $630,000 in 2008. Base officials decentralized the central HVAC plants in military family housing, 20 facilities received new energy monitoring control systems, and nearly 30 dormitories and temporary lodging facilities received new energy-efficient washing machines. An investment in compact fluorescent light bulbs costing $10,000 will save $118,000 over the lifetime of the bulbs. 

"Teamwork, keeping the message simple and persistence seem to be the keys to a successful energy program," said Jon Muckey, the Kadena AB energy manager.

There will be a reception to recognize the winners in October in Washington, D.C.