Hanscom starts new energy competition

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) -- A new energy competition is underway here called "How Low Can You Go?" The competition requires little effort but big results by focusing on energy consumption during the weekend.

"We want people to place special focus on their pre-weekend shutdown measures," said Tom Schluckebier, the base civil engineer. "It requires small steps, such as tilting the window blinds to block direct sunlight to reduce cooling needs during warmer months, or turning off appliances."

The competition, which begins June 23 - 24, focuses on three groups of similar-sized buildings in a tournament-style playoff.

Group 1 includes three specifc buildings that range in size from 109,000 -120,000 square feet. Group 2 consists of  specifc buildings that are all around 45,000 square feet. Finally, Group 3 includes three buildings that range from 93,000 -103,000 square feet or more.

Base civil engineers recently gathered baseline electrical consumption data for the facilities involved. The baseline readings will be used to compare the weekend electrical intensity.

The top two performing buildings the first weekend will compete head-to-head the weekend of July 14 and 15, with an overall winner from each group that will be declared July 27.

Civil engineering officials will work with facility managers to improve energy efficiency in a variety of ways before and throughout the competition. For example, a checklist has been developed to help facility managers look for ways to improve energy efficiency.

Checklist items include looking for leaking faucets, closing off areas without air conditioning, checking for misaligned exterior doors, or pointing out excessive illumination.

The facility managers can also encourage employees working in the facilities to do their part before leaving for the weekend.

"Employees can do small things like making sure they unplug equipment that drains energy even when not in use," Schluckebier said. "Those items include cell phone chargers, fans, coffeemakers, desktop printers or radios. They can also turn off their computer monitors before leaving the office."

Turning off lights is another important step.

"If we leave a light on overnight, we waste about 10 to 15 hours of electricity," he said. "If we leave a light on over the weekend, we waste 60 hours or more."

The competition is part of an overall Air Force Materiel Command initiative to reduce energy consumption. The effort, called the AFMC Energy Excellence Award, runs throughout 2012 and each base within the command can earn points by conducting their own competition as well as pursuing several other energy-saving initiatives.

The results of this competition will be announced in early 2013.

The members of the civil engineering division hope both the base and AFMC initiatives will increase awareness, give people a chance to do their part in reducing energy consumption, and improve the culture of making energy conservation a part of everyone's daily lives.