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JBSA News
NEWS | May 28, 2010

Energy conservation vital as temperatures continue to climb

By Robert Goetz 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Summer is quickly approaching and temperatures are on the rise.

With the mild days of spring slipping away, electric bills are also beginning their ascent.
At Randolph, leadership is asking the base community to step up their efforts to conserve energy - not just to address a shortfall in this fiscal year's utility budget, but to contribute to a cultural change with conservation at the forefront.

"There is a great need for conservation this summer," said Anthony Martinez, 902nd Mission Support Group energy program manager. "We want to make sure we're able to meet our fiscal responsibilities and not have a large shortfall."

So far this year, the base's utility payments are about $500,000 over budget, Mr. Martinez said.

"We don't want to make that worse during the summer months, so we're looking at more conservation measures," he said. "We've sent an e-mail to building managers, telling them we'll be stringently following base policy of air-conditioning settings between 76 and 78 degrees during the summer. The exceptions to this policy are critical equipment and medical waivers that may exist; we're asking for letters justifying adjustments in temperature."

The base follows a formula implemented in 2002 to determine activation and deactivation dates in the fall and spring for heating and air-conditioning systems.

Mr. Martinez said this year's current shortfall is due to a 7 percent rate increase by City Public Service; high-demand charges from last summer, which account for half the utility bill; and an overall increase in consumption this fiscal year - some of that attributed to a greater use of natural gas because of cold winter temperatures.

He said another conservation measure that will help reduce consumption is participation in CPS' demand response program, which began this week.

"That is where we voluntarily curtail loads between 3 and 6 p.m. each week day through the end of September," Mr. Martinez said. "They will give us a credit on our utility bill that will help us with any shortfall in our budget."

Building managers are also being asked to shut off high-use equipment after 3 p.m. on high-demand days, he added.

Robert Rushing, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron Asset Management Flight chief, said the base's multi-million-dollar energy program is designed to reduce the overall energy demand, but personnel "can make a significant contribution to our energy reduction efforts by being energy-wise at their individual work stations."

"For example, perform a quick tour of your work area before you go home to make sure you have turned off peripherals such as monitors, printers, fans and radios," he said. "Also, don't be afraid to help your fellow wingman and turn off their peripherals, too, if you see they forgot to turn their items off before leaving."

Mr. Rushing said conservation is even more important this summer because many members of the base community are working in less-efficient temporary facilities while their permanent facilities are being renovated.

Personnel should employ the same conservation measures they use at home, Mr. Martinez said.

"They should treat the money at work like the money they spend at home," he said. "We want to be able to continue to do this as a cultural change. We want people to be looking at conservation."