CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Although the end result may not yet be clear, the phrase "going green" is getting the hard push in the mainstream recently.
Hardly a single episode of popularized television programming flickers by from start to end without at least a few commercials geared at getting people to "think green" too.
On the small scale, average consumers might be starting to get the not-so-hidden message, but on the large scale, it's a message some people have understood for many years.
The big energy picture is what people like Jeff Morgan, the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron base energy manager, wrap their heads around day-in and day-out. For him, the average consumer is the everyday member of Team Charleston consuming Air Force energy - every single day.
So, how big of a picture is it? Take $25 million-big for example, which was the hefty price tag that dangled from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system package installed throughout Charleston AFB facilities to provide both cost effective and reliable temperature control, guaranteed by their manufacturer for 19 years.
This sort of energy saving project is the type which brings a benefit to the entire base and has helped Charleston AFB develop a reputation in recent years as the top energy saving base in Air Mobility Command, Mr. Morgan said.
Continuing on that path, the 437th Airlift Wing had a recent energy savings achievement through the new AMC Energy Incentive Award, in which the wing took top honors Nov. 18 and a $100,000 award for fiscal 2009 accomplishments.
Mr. Morgan said he isn't alone in his pursuit of saving energy for the base. Winning the award was something the 437 AW achieved together, he said.
"In keeping with the Team Charleston concept, I didn't do it all myself. There were numerous other people within the civil engineer squadron and other squadrons, so we submitted it for a wing-wide award."
Achievements across the 437 AW included accomplishments such as a 25 percent reduction in energy consumption in fiscal 2009, participation in the largest single Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration Air Force-wide, the purchase of light-duty vehicles to replace larger fuel-hungry trucks, use of bio-diesel fueled government vehicles and modification of aircraft takeoffs and landings for greater fuel efficiency.
"The most impressive thing I saw was Charleston's energy reduction numbers after they decentralized a heat plant," said Mr. Stephen Kalmer, AMC resource efficiency manager, who also served on the award selection committee. "Charleston's always been good, but that was what really stood out."
In addition to Charleston AFB, green thinking also led to cold cash for Scott AFB, Ill., winning $75,000, and Travis AFB, Calif., winning $50,000, for their efforts to conserve energy and promote culture change.
The three winning applicants out of 11 AMC bases excelled in vehicle fuel initiatives; renewable energy technology pursuits; water conservation and overall cultural change.
Winning installations will receive half of their base's cash award for new energy saving projects and will get the other half to spend however they choose, said Mr. Kalmer.
The cash award translates to more money for new developments, improvements and other programs which directly benefit the quality of life for Airmen, and with Year of the Family, it is a win-win for Charleston AFB.
By enabling creative ideas to eliminate energy waste, Team Charleston will continue to save the Air Force money in the future.
"There's a long way to the end goal," Mr. Morgan said. "We're constantly feeding information out to the base populous to change the culture by putting it on the instant messenger, IPTV, plus there are the briefings we do.
"That's where it starts. You've got to change the culture. You've got to get folks to think, 'Hey, what's my part in this?' Just a little bit, multiplied by 3,500 people on this base ... that makes a big difference," he said.
First Lt. Kathleen Ferrero, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs, contributed to this article.