Thunderbolts play role in energy awareness

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Tanya Wren
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  October is Energy Action Month, an Air Force-wide effort to empower Airmen to play a key role in achieving energy goals and fostering a culture of energy awareness.

The Air Force is focusing on energy conservation to reduce energy demand and assure supply through advanced planning tools for air operations, more energy efficient aircraft technology, smarter building designs and the pursuit of alternative and renewable sources.

Luke Air Force Base is striving toward these goals through supporting future energy projects.

"Luke has leased 100 acres of land to Arizona Public Service to house a 10-megawatt solar array that will provide energy for the surrounding community," said Robert Worley, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight chief. "The solar array will generate enough energy to provide power to 1,800 to 2,000 homes a year, and will prevent the emission of 12,000 to 15,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year."

The project will provide a reliable and renewable energy supply to the power grid for years to come.

Another project moving Luke closer to Air Force energy goals is the new Academic Training Center. The new home to future F-35 Lightening II joint strike fighter students has been built with energy conservation in mind.

"The ATC is an architecturally and strategically significant facility," said Col. Kimberly Colloton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project management plan commander. "The ATC is not only state-of-the-art in terms of what it will offer for training pilots on the latest in Air Force assets, but the foresight that went into design and construction of this building is an example of the continued commitment from the Defense Department to sustainability and our environment."

Colloton added that the ATC will receive a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Silver certification, or LEED, for short. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certified buildings save money and resources while keeping in mind occupant health and renewable, clean energy.

The members of the 56th Logistics Readiness Fuels Management Flight who are responsible for the storage and issue of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, are also doing their part to help conserve resources on base.

"Due to their physical properties, liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen are highly unstable at ambient temperatures," said Staff Sgt. Clint Zeller, 56th LRS FMF fuels distribution supervisor. "This instability always results in loss of inventory due to product boil off. We mitigate these losses through a locally developed conservation program."

Bulk storage tanks are kept as full as economically possible and are periodically tested to ensure they meet military specifications, Zeller said.

Members of the 56th CES will join with APS during Energy Action Month to empower Airmen and base residents to save money and energy.

"Luke and APS will partner to bring awareness to the base," said Master Sgt. Samuel Simien, 56th CES base energy manager. "We will be setting up a booth in front of the Luke Air Force Base Exchange to give on-base and off-base residents tips and tricks about how to save money and conserve energy."

Every Airman at Luke, and across the Air Force, is responsible for being smart with their use of energy resources.

"Energy is a fundamental component of all Air Force operations. The smart use of energy means flying our aircraft farther, transporting more cargo and accomplishing our mission in a more efficient and effective way," said the Honorable Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, Gen. Mark Welsh III, Air Force Chief of Staff and Chief Master Sgt. James Cody, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, in a tri-signed letter about Energy Action Month. "We need every Airman to drive innovation and ensure we efficiently use every pound of jet fuel, every watt of electricity and every gallon of gasoline."