Base officials encourage energy efficiency

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – October is Energy Action Month. The Air Force’s theme is “Protect the Power,” which serves as a call to action for employees throughout the Air Force, including here, to practice energy-efficient habits in their daily lives.

“It is our in goal in the 66th Civil Engineering Division to inspire all those who live and work at Hanscom Air Force Base to make a commitment to a continual and sustained change in energy use,” said Chinh Phan, Hanscom’s base energy manager.

According to Phan, the installation has reduced its energy use by more than 20 percent in the past 10 years through implementation of several energy-saving performance contracts.

“The vast majority of that savings is the result of a project that upgraded and replaced more than 95 percent of light fixtures to LED lighting in facilities on base,” Phan said. “Other projects that have resulted in energy savings include upgrading inefficient boilers as well as converting the heat source in some buildings on base from steam heat to natural gas.”

Phan added that all base personnel should help with energy conservation.

“From Airmen to civilians to contractors, everyone at Hanscom has an important role in achieving our energy goals by making conservation a priority,” Phan said. “Aside from turning off the lights and your monitor at the end of the workday, try and reduce the amount of printing you do.

The Hanscom Energy Management team will perform after-hour energy sweeps in five buildings on base throughout October.

“The purpose of the sweeps is to highlight the many ways employees can save energy when they go home for the night,” he said. “We hope to continue to create a culture of energy awareness across the installation.”

Officials will provide feedback to employees who are and are not being energy conscious.

“We challenge all members of the community to protect the power we have by looking for ways to save energy, water and other resources,” he said. “Every effort can lead to substantial savings when multiplied across Hanscom and throughout the Air Force.”

CE officials will host an energy-themed event at the Base Exchange Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Additionally, base civil engineers will send weekly emails highlighting the many ways members of the workforce can save energy at work and at home.

A Twitter chat with Air Force senior leaders about energy savings will take place Oct. 30 from 2 to 3 p.m. Those interested can participate by following hashtag #ProtectThePower.

For further information on Energy Action Month, visit https://www.safie.hq.af.mil/EnergyActionMonth/ or contact Phan at 781-225-5594.

CE continues to look for ways to reduce Hanscom’s energy footprint year-round. Those with energy-saving ideas or those who want to report energy or water waste are encouraged to email members of the Energy Management Team at chinh.phan.2@us.af.mil or brian.noury@us.af.mil.