McGuire Energy Team upgraded to Air Force Model Base Energy program

Published April 30, 2007
By Maj. Georgina Johns
305th Civil Engineer Squadron

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NJ. -- Recently the office of the secretary of the Air Force, through the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program, selected McGuire AFB and Barksdale AFB, La., as Air Force "Model" Bases.

The Air Force is making energy conservation a priority by identifying two proving grounds for innovative energy ideas. Here and in Louisiana the ideas from both base and command levels will be implemented and fine-tuned for use at bases around the world.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the McGuire Energy Team to lead the way" said Lt. Col. Geoff Norton, the newly-appointed McGuire Energy Program Team chief. The Air Force will invest significant funds at the model bases to implement energy initiatives to achieve, and hopefully exceed, the current mandated energy savings.

"McGuire's selection as a model base was not a surprise," said Joe Bogdan, Base Energy manager, 305th Civil Engineer Squadron. "As the guy who deals with facility energy and utility issues, I have been pursuing several Air Force- and contractor-funded energy initiatives for almost nine years. This led to McGuire being selected for an Energy Efficiency Expert Evaluation audit that included members of the Department of Energy as well as various Air Force organizations that catapulted McGuire to the attention of the AFSO21 office."

McGuire has been implementing energy conservation initiatives for some time. "In fact," Mr. Bogdan continued, "one key way we save on utilities is to capitalize on the days with milder temperatures. We do this by turning off heat to non-critical admin and industrial facilities slightly earlier than usual. That, coupled with delaying the start of air-conditioning by a couple weeks saves McGuire almost $250,000."

The heat shut-off began in earnest April 23 with administrative and industrial facilities. Class A facilities, dormitories and 24-hour facilities are not scheduled to be shut off until the end of April. Class A facilities will have their HVAC systems turned on mid-May. Administrative and industrial facilities can expect HVAC after Memorial Day.

"It's not just about turning off lights and recycling," said Col. Rick Martin, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander. "We're striving toward a culture of energy conservation that I know Team McGuire 'Can Do'."

The AFSO21 office had already identified three key areas for energy savings. One key area is jet fuel. The Air Force consumes approximately $6 billion in fuel, even a 1 percent reduction in usage or waste equals $60 million saved. The second key area for energy savings is facilities, specifically, utility costs.

The third key area targeted for energy savings is vehicle operations and gasoline. One energy initiative already afoot is to use the recycled engine oil in boilers around the base, thus eliminating much of the waste oil. Also, the 305th Logistics Readiness Squadron has been using a device called the "Regenerator" a fuel hydrant vehicle that saves cost and energy, reduces fire hazards and eliminates EPA emissions.

In January, Executive Order 13423 established the newest and most stringent energy reductions yet. It increased energy reduction targets to 30 percent by 2015, an additional 50 percent more than previous reductions. These targets are lofty, and with McGuire leading the way, we can all help conserve our environment and our war-fighting machine.