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Fairchild implementations reflect Energy Action Month

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Throughout the Air Force, October is recognized as Energy Action Month. Fairchild has made rapid strides toward becoming more energy efficient. Units around the base have already proven themselves to be capable of meeting the goals laid out before them, by Air Mobility Command and Air Force headquarters.

The 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron is one of the units at Fairchild put to the test.

"One of the things we are doing is working on several projects to upgrade the lighting base-wide to make it more energy efficient and higher performance, so that everything will look better and we'll be saving money at the same time," said Jeff Cook-Coyle, 92nd CES resource efficiency manager. "We'll be designing the projects in fiscal 2014, expecting to build them in fiscal 2015. Altogether, the first project is projected to save $55,000 per year, the second project $137,000 per year, the third project $30,000 per year."

Fairchild has also been awarded recently for its accomplishments in the area of energy management.

"Fairchild was the first place winner for the 2012 AMC Energy Incentive Award, which gives recognition to the top bases and people in command for energy conservation and improvement," said 2nd Lt. Lukas Morse, 92nd CES installation management deputy chief.

In 2011, the squadron received the Energy Appreciation Program Award, which is given to the base that has distinguished itself for surpassing federally mandated energy and water conservation goals, said Morse. In physical year 2012, eight energy projects at Fairchild were estimated to save $487,000 on utility bills and 125 million gallons of water.

Fairchild's 92nd Operations Group also made innovative changes to its energy practices in the air.

"One amazing way that Fairchild is saving money in the form of energy is how we deploy," said Capt. Paul Campbell, 92nd OG fuel efficiency officer. "When the weather allows, we fly over the North Pole to take aircrew and airplanes in and out of U.S. Central Command."

Flying this route saves eight hours of flight time and saves the Air Force close to $100,000 each flight.

"A strong majority of that $100,000 is in fuel costs," said Campbell.

Many other developments have occurred to optimize the energy output that units deliver here.

"We recently lowered our planned training offload to 100 pounds of gas," Campbell said.

Previously, the operations group planned on offloading between 1,000 and 5,000 pounds, regardless of whether the receiver needed the gas or not, explained Campbell.

"When receivers are conducting aerial refueling training, they don't necessarily need to take on gas," said Campbell. "For lubrication, boom operators fill the boom with fuel during an aerial refueling contact on a regular basis. This passes a minimal amount of gas to the receiver; rarely does this reach 1,000 to 5,000 pounds of gas."

Since implementation, the 92nd OG has prevented over 700,000 pounds of gas from being loaded, preventing $494,000 from being spent.

"This will save Fairchild $1.7 million over an entire fiscal year," said Campbell.

Ways that individuals can help include carpooling and closing blinds and curtains to help with heating costs. These small steps lessen the footprint on both checkbooks and the environment.