Luke energy conservation saves millions

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Candice Dillitte
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  With increasing emphasis on energy conservation, Luke Air Force Base continues to develop projects that promote energy savings.

Luke is following the mandate set out by Executive Order 13423 by reducing facility energy consumption by 3 percent per year based on a 2003 baseline (30 percent by 2015).

"Our primary focus is to identify inefficiencies throughout Luke AFB, develop practical renewable projects and educate the base populous on energy conservation to embrace culture change," said Ricardo Vera, 56th CES energy program specialist.

For the past three years, the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron won the Air Education and Training Command Energy Reduction Award, placing first in 2010 and 2011 with a $1.5 million award each year and third place in 2009, receiving $500,000 to spend on energy conservation projects.

Several initiatives have been put in to place to shift members' focus to becoming more energy efficient.

"By creating a lighting schedule we reduce the number of lights," Vera said. "The delamping program has the potential of reducing energy use by 2 million kilo-watts annually."

CES conducted building audits that allowed facility inefficiencies to be identified. The inefficiencies were corrected in-house through the 56th CES Operations Flight.

Installing smart meters in buildings allows for electric data to be collected and monthly energy consumptions to be analyzed; 74 have already been installed.

Other projects are in planning phases to reduce energy usage even further.

The Cool Roof project will be put in place soon. Five buildings on base will have the cool roof technology installed to create a radiant and insulated barrier that reduces the heating and cooling load, which in turn reduces energy intensity. The expected savings is 500,000 killowatt-hour or $37,500 per year.

Most known is the Top Solar Panel project. There are three facilities CES is looking at to put the 1.2 mega-watt solar panel into operation.

CES is reaching out to the community and collaborating with Arizona State University to use alternative means to fund projects. Also, they are seeking to exchange ideas on newly developed energy efficiency technologies.

"In a continuing effort to reduce facility energy consumption and meet the energy reduction goals at Luke AFB, 56th CES will continually be executing initiatives, projects and researching innovative technologies to achieve mandated goals outlined in Executive Order 13423," Vera said.