66 ABG saves millions through CE energy initiatives

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Civil engineers assigned to the 66th Air Base Group are credited with saving the Air Force more than $70 million in energy costs to date, and through other projects scheduled, CE officials expect that to increase.

These savings have been achieved through projects designed to reduce energy demand, as well as implement an energy awareness culture at Hanscom. Specifically, engineers have completed a consolidation and optimization project, as well as an overall reduction in energy intensity by more than 30 percent. Converting street lights to LED, replacing all of the fluorescent light fixtures and lighting timers and lighting sensors in buildings on the installation are just a few of the projects that helped achieve that goal.

More recently, Hanscom's civil engineers collaborated with contractors to begin work on a project to directly connect to a high-pressure gas main that traverses the base, thus eliminating a transportation tariff that the base has been required to pay. That work is expected to be completed by October 2014.

"This project will potentially save Hanscom more than $1 million per year, as the base currently pays $900,000 a year as a transportation tariff, and that is expected to increase," said David P. Wong, 66th Air Base Group chief of engineering, adding that this project was not possible earlier because of funding and regulatory issues.

Wong further estimates that the base will also save more than $350,000 annually by replacing 1950s-era gas line infrastructure that has resulted in loss through small, undetectable leaks.

In addition, he said that the current supply configuration does not provide the base enough gas to fuel all four boilers at the Central Plant. During the winter, when it is extremely cold outdoors, the plant runs three boilers on gas and one on oil, which is more expensive.

"The new pipeline will provide enough pressure up at the plant that we will now be able to run all four boilers on gas, providing a significant savings for Hanscom," Wong said.

As a result of these types of projects on the installation, the base was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency in April with a government regional award in the Fuel Oil Reduction category.

Civil engineers also highlighted the fact that the base has reduced overall energy intensity -- a measure of energy per square foot of space -- compared to a 2003 baseline.

"Since 2003, projects such as the Central Plant optimization, the installation and upgrade of a base-wide energy management and control system, advanced metering, full-spectrum energy conservation projects and space consolidation efforts have been pivotal to saving the base millions," said Tom Schluckebier, 66 ABG Civil Engineering director.

In addition, the state of Massachusetts has recently begun energy assessments on all military installations to find ways to further reduce energy demand.
 
"These projects are real savings to the Air Force," said Schluckebier. "This money can now be spent on other mission-related items."