Energy Action Month Published Oct. 29, 2014 By 325th Civil Engineer Squadron 325th Civil Engineer Squadron TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Although the Air Force's energy needs are currently met, the global demand for finite energy resources continues to increase. The Air Force Energy Vision is to sustain an assured energy advantage in air, space, and cyberspace. By making the best use of energy and water resources, the Air Force achieves an edge to help ensure operational supremacy. Energy is becoming a larger share of the Air Force budget, going from three percent of the total Air Force budget in 2003 to over eight percent in 2011. It is becoming more difficult for the Air Force to forecast and plan for the rise in energy costs. With the austere fiscal environment facing the Air Force and the Nation, energy can pose a financial risk to the Air Force's ability to plan, develop and acquire the technologies and equipment necessary to sustain air, space and cyberspace superiority. Today, the Air Force's primary source of energy is fuel made from petroleum--we need it for aviation operations, ground vehicles, equipment and back-up power generation. Aside from this fuel requirement, the Air Force relies heavily upon electricity to support installations, which is mainly obtained from the commercial electric grid and generated by public utility companies. In order to reduce the vulnerability of an energy shortage and support the Air Force Energy Vision, the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron is currently planning nearly $20 million of facilities work for the purpose of energy cost reduction. The 325th CES is anticipating $2.4 million to implement HVAC, lighting and building envelope upgrades that will save over $300,000 per year. In addition, 325th CES is pursuing alternative financing to implement: · Exterior lighting upgrades that save $165,000 per year. · Energy Management Control System upgrades that save $537,000 per year. · On-site power generation fueled by natural gas that saves $1.2 million per year. The Air Force relies heavily on specific resources to meet its energy demands. While the electricity is generated using a mix of fuel sources, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy, the grid distributing the power is aging and vulnerable to both natural disasters and attacks. These vulnerabilities can affect all installation-based Air Force missions, including cyber and space missions. Energy is a constraining resource requiring long logistics tails that affects how we engage across the full spectrum of operations. As a result, energy represents a critical vulnerability for both the nation and the military. As Energy Action Month draws to a close, we encourage everyone to keep doing his or her part at the office and at home by turning lights and appliances off when not in use, setting the air conditioning at a reasonable temperature and considering energy in all we do.