60th CES provides overview of Travis energy program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Josh Ligday
  • 60th Civil Engineer Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis has a very robust and successful energy program. 

With rising utility costs, shortage of funds and the hot summer months on the way, it is important that the Travis Team understands the importance of energy conservation policies and the tools that help them adhere to these policies. 

The main thrust to reduce energy is governed by Executive Order 13123 which mandates all Department of Defense facilities reduce energy consumption 30 percent by fiscal 2005 and 35 percent by FY10, using an FY85 baseline. Travis was at 28 percent for FY05. 

The Travis Team should strive to meet these guidelines because the rise in utility rates has put additional financial pressure on the base operating budget. 

Travis is set to pay an additional $275,000 for a utility bill shortfall in FY06. In the past, this was a must-pay bill covered by Air Staff. 

The shortfall will be funded from the wing’s pot of money typically used to keep the base running. 

Travis members must all do their part to change behaviors that create immediate costs savings; energy saved equals more dollars to improve the base. 

According to Brig. Gen. Del Eulberg, director of installations and mission support, Headquarters Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., “It is not too late to make an impact on this year’s energy consumption.” 

The easiest and most cost effective way organizations can help alleviate the utility funding shortage is to follow the wing’s directed thermostat settings. 

Thermostats must be set at 68 degrees for the winter and 78 degrees for the summer.
A future article will further explain the 68 degree-78 degree concept to include its huge cost savings and health benefits. 

Besides individual conservation measures, which will be addressed in next week’s paper, the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron has a couple programs available to assist in energy conservation. 

The first program is the Energy Management Control System. EMCS allows us to efficiently control lighting and heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems from a central location. EMCS also gives energy managers the ability to handle system problems as they arise. Currently 29 percent of base facilities are connected to EMCS with a DoD requirement that all new construction or major repair projects get online. 

The second program is the Energy Savings Performance Contract. The ESPC uses cost savings generated from utility bills to pay a contractor upfront for the project.
One example ESPC in progress is retrofitting 84 Travis facilities with more energy efficient lighting, HVAC, and EMCS systems. The contract, only in its second year, saves an estimated $700,000 annually. EMCS and ESPC issues, along with all other energy conservation initiatives are presented and approved by the Energy Management Steering Group. The next EMSG, which is chaired by the 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, will be in the June/July timeframe. 

Even with all these tools at our disposal, the ultimate power is in your hands to conserve energy! 

For more information, call Maintenance Engineering at 424-3336.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the first of a series of energy conservation articles that will be published over the upcoming months. Next week’s topic is how to conserve energy at home and in the work place.