Travis prepares for Energy Action Fair Published Oct. 17, 2012 By Nick DeCicco 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis' Energy Action Fair is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Travis Fitness Center as a highlight of the base's activities celebrating Energy Awareness Month. Participants will exercise on 10 elliptical machines connected to the base's power grid, which converts human energy into no-cost, carbon-free electricity. Guests also can visit an information booth and win giveaways. "The main goal is to spread the information to everyone, to make sure they're aware of energy," said 1st Lt. Joshua Martinez, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron energy program manager. The fair is one of several pieces of a plan Travis members established to focus on energy and its reduction during the month of October. As in recent years, another event is a base-wide energy reduction campaign which seeks to lower the base's energy usage by 6 percent during the month of October vs. October 2011. Travis' energy consumption for the month of October 2011 was 6.76 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to the power used by more than 650 homes. The base hit the identical goal for the program in 2011, which resulted in a down day for nonessential personnel. The Travis community also is participating in the Building Electricity Competition, which pits base facilities against one another in an effort to achieve the highest percentage electricity reduction this month as opposed to October 2011. The 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight also is taking part in the base's energy action goals. In addition to regular tests to make sure the base has the proper quantities of Jet Propellant-8, unleaded gas, diesel and biodiesel, Travis personnel are working to help meet Defense Department-mandated reductions before 2015 deadlines. One is a 10 percent decline in aviation fuels. Another is a 2 percent per year goal to reduce ground fuel use. For this month, 1st Lt. Andrew Gill, 60th LRS fuels management flight commander, said his flight is working on revalidating base vehicles and what fuel they are approved to use, including which vehicles are OK for biodiesel. "Biodiesel is finnicky," he said. "You have to make sure the vehicle isn't sitting stagnant or it does damage to the vehicle." Gill said that his flight represents the supply side, but the demand side is where the reductions will come. "We don't have a whole lot of control over how much aviation fuel is used," Gill said. "That's determined by the flying squadrons and their fuel budget." Gill said a long-term base goal is to introduce E85, a fuel mixture which is made of 85 percent ethanol fuel. The fuel blend can be used by vehicles bearing the flex fuel logo. Travis has identified 78 such vehicles, but the fuels management flight does not have the product to dispense, he said. "We look at what alternative fuel products are available in our units and identify vehicles able to use them," he said. Gill said if Travis does bring E85 into its suite of fuels, the base is slated to be the Air Force's fourth-largest consumer. During 2012, Travis has worked to upgrade lighting in base facilities; improve the insulation and sealant in several buildings; and improve facility equipment to improve efficiency. Additional projects include installing solar panels on Travis Avenue light poles. For more information about the Energy Action Fair, call Martinez at 424-0016.