CE energy element helps cut costs

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Andrea Valencia
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla --  Buildings across base recently received updated lighting controls, which will result in a $30,000 savings to Tyndall's energy bill each year.

The project began in early November and was completed this week. In addition to installing automatic lighting, the project also upgraded older lighting putting in more efficient lights.

"We installed almost 500 occupancy sensors with the lighting project," said Mr. Scott Sheffield, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron resource efficiency manager. "The new bulbs are smaller, more technologically advanced and more energy efficient. It's going to be saving the Air Force money."

The base electricity bill averages $8 million a year, something the 325th CES energy element works year round to reduce.

"It will take some getting used to, having to go from the ability to control the lights on your own to learning how the sensors work," said Mr. Jon Caldwell, 325th CES base energy manager. "But it's better lighting, better quality and uses less power."

"The total point of why this job exists is to cut consumption. Cut water and electricity consumption and that translates into dollar savings," said Mr. Caldwell. "So that is achieved through efficiency upgrades, management of our facility temperature settings and education and awareness."

Part of that efficiency is reviewing building designs to ensure that facilities are efficient from the start, added Mr. Sheffield.

"We make sure it has the minimum efficiency standard and the proper insulation. It's actually one of the most effective things to cut costs, to build a better building from the beginning. As well as making sure older buildings are still being used efficiently today since they could have been designed for a different purpose years ago," he said.

Temperature enforcement boils down to set facility temperature standards throughout the year. In the winter, the set point is 69 degrees and in the summer it's set to 76 degrees.

Team Tyndall members can also help cut energy costs in their work places every day simply by turning things off, said Mr. Caldwell.

"Turn off lights, equipment and fans if you're not around. General sleep mode is good enough for monitors and computers. Any other equipment that doesn't have sleep mode, get in the habit of at the end of the day or before a holiday turning it off," he added. "Take it kind of personally, like you're in your own home."