RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A steering group composed of organizational representatives and facility managers from all over Randolph is at the forefront of the base's efforts to intensify its energy conservation efforts.
Re-established by the 902nd Mission Support Group, the Energy Management Steering Group will meet at 1 p.m. March 15 in the 902nd MSG conference room, Bldg. 100, for the first of planned quarterly meetings.
According to the mission statement of the EMSG's proposed charter, the purpose of the steering group is to "stimulate energy conservation opportunities and alternative energy technology implementation across the full spectrum of base energy applications."
The steering group will promote energy as a resource consideration in Air Force decision making, a culture where Airmen naturally conserve energy, alternative energy sources consistent with life-cycle costs and benefits and the use of technology to offset energy consumption.
The original EMSG was active for several years before it was merged with the Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health forums to form the Energy, Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Council, said James Wimberley, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron asset optimization chief.
"With the current emphasis that is being placed on energy at the national level, program management offices dedicated to energy issues are being formed at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Air Force all the way down to base level," he said. "To keep pace with all the initiatives being considered and strategies being developed, directions have been issued to break out the specific working group to concentrate on energy issues."
Ruben Ramos, 902nd CES utilities engineer, said one example of an energy-saving practice that was discussed at a recent meeting involving representatives from all Joint Base San Antonio installations is working with communications squadrons to shut off all computers and monitors at night and give those squadrons prescribed times to insert patches into software programs and perform other maintenance.
"That would result in considerable savings because some buildings have heavy loads from computer equipment," he said.
Mr. Ramos said another way to save energy is to control heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the base's facilities from a central location, which is now being performed on a limited basis.
"This helps with the demand response program," he said, referring to the voluntary City Public Service program that encourages customers to voluntarily curtail energy use during summertime peak consumption hours. "But to make a bigger difference we would have to control more buildings."
Mr. Ramos said the steering group meetings will provide a forum for the development of more ideas to conserve energy.
He said the first session will focus on the EMSG's proposed charter, which includes the steering group's mission statement, membership and duties and responsibilities, as well as historical data regarding the base's energy usage.
Mr. Ramos said initial recommendations may include the installation of power strips with sensors that can turn off computer monitors, fans, radios and other devices when they're not in use and tasking facility managers with making sure that monitors, lights, coffee makers and other equipment are turned off at the end of the day.
Randolph has played a part in an Air Force-wide effort to conserve facility energy for several decades, according to the proposed charter. Major goals of Air Force energy policies, driven by federal policies, mandates and public law, are to reduce energy intensity by 3 percent per annum and water use by 2 percent per annum and increase use of renewable energy at annual targets through 2025.
"The Air Force's energy vision is to increase the use of alternative energy sources, reduce energy demand through efficiency and develop a culture where all Airmen consider energy in all we do," it reads.