Hanscom places third for command’s energy initiative

  • Published
  • Air Force Materiel Command Energy Team
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, Air Force Materiel Command commander, announced during the Energy Management Steering Group on March 26 that Robins Air Force Base, Ga., captured first place in the command's 2012 Facility Energy Excellence Award. Hill Air Force Base, Utah, won second place and Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., received third place.

The Facility Energy Excellence Award provides an objective assessment of the installations' energy programs and recognizes efforts in promoting energy reduction, changing the energy culture and recognizing the performance of the installation facility energy managers. Culture change was weighted at 80 percent, recognizing that the key to energy conservation resides in each individual's actions and in active leadership at all levels across the enterprise. Energy reduction was weighted at 15 percent and water reduction was weighted at 5 percent. These categories capture actual, tangible gains made in energy conservation.

The award acknowledged outstanding accomplishments from January through December 2012.

The cultural change component included energy program leadership, action plans, energy investments and energy awareness. Culture change continues to be one of three pillars of the Air Force vision to "make energy a consideration in all we do." The other pillars are reduce demand and increase supply.

"Each of these installations built a robust energy management program focused on energy reduction and energy culture," said Col. Jeff Todd, AFMC Communications, Installations and Mission Support deputy director. "Their efforts display great achievements in energy reduction and promotion of cultural change at the installation level and subsequently, the MAJCOM."

Energy reduction was assessed by measuring the actual reduction in energy and water intensity as reported to the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and compared with the previous years' consumption.

"This competition is about conserving energy, reducing demand and changing culture, which results in the reduction of our energy footprint while also helping to improve our energy security posture," Todd said. "Together, let's continue to make energy conservation a consideration in all we do."