CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Air Force leadership has clearly stated our priorities are winning today's fight, taking care of our people and preparing for tomorrow's challenges. It is up to each major command, installation, functional area and Airman to ensure our activities and actions support these priorities.
One way we can support Air Force priorities both directly and indirectly is by reducing waste and ensuring our limited resources are used effectively. Energy reduction, a form of waste reduction, is something each of us can practice, either formally through Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century efforts or informally by decisions we make each day. Here are some numbers to consider. The Air Force spends more than $1.4 billion to power its vehicles, operations and facilities each year. On average, Charleston AFB pays $330,000 each month for electricity or about $4,000,000 each year.
Charleston AFB is already leading the way in large-scale energy reduction efforts. We have two Energy Savings Performance Contracts in which we have partnered with contractors to install energy-efficient lighting throughout our facilities, geothermal heat pumps, a central chilled water plant, enhanced energy management controls systems, and energy-efficient heating and ventilation and air-conditioning systems in more than half of our facilities. The introduction of these new systems coupled with the housing demolition effort has allowed us to achieve a 30 percent energy reduction and save more than $2,000,000 in additional energy and water costs each year. We are now considering technologies such as green roof technology and solar panels.
While we continue to look at large-scale or system-wide energy reduction opportunities, each organization can reduce energy consumption through several simple practices. Remove unnecessary coffee pots, microwaves, hot plates and other small appliances. Turn off all tools, office machines and portable appliances when not in use. Use daylight instead of electric light whenever possible. Turn off lights whenever you leave your office or if a room is unoccupied. Ensure computer monitors automatically switch to sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity. Contact CE Service Call at 963-5027 to report inoperative lights, switches, air-conditioning systems and thermostats.
Energy use by our housing residents is a substantial portion of our total base energy costs and represents a great potential for savings. Our monthly electric bills for base housing average $45,000. By simply setting your thermostat to 76 to 78 degrees during the summer months, you can help reduce our overall consumption by 10 to 15 percent. Also, keep blinds, shades and curtains closed during the day. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes from the sun. Housing residents can also contribute to water reduction efforts by limiting the duration of lawn watering and washing of vehicles.
For both housing and office environments, additional energy consumption can be reduced by unplugging unused appliances and electronics or using a power strip with a switch to cut all power to the appliance. Some studies have shown 25 percent of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as DVD players, TVs, stereos, computers and kitchen appliances.
Reducing energy at Charleston AFB is everyone's business because it benefits everyone at Charleston AFB. Resources saved by energy reduction can be used to support our mission and quality of life. The implementation of an effective energy awareness program at your facility and home will help our efforts in reducing energy and cutting waste throughout the base.
Our example can also be mirrored by others in our surrounding communities. The increased knowledge we gain toward improving energy habits and behaviors here will extend to other waste reduction efforts as well. In turn, more of our resources can be focused on winning today's fight, taking care of our people and preparing for tomorrow's challenges.