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Robins energy effort more than just conservation measures

  • Published
  • By Amanda Creel
  • 78th ABW/PA
When it comes to conserving energy Team Robins has heeded Commander Kill A Watt's conservation message, but members of the energy team want the community to know they aren't just the "energy police."

The energy team has been working on numerous initiatives outside of the conservation realm to ensure that other facets of the energy battle are also being addressed, said Dave Bury, energy manager.

One of their most recent efforts is reminding Team Robins that energy can be conserved every day not just on holidays and weekends. The team's new campaign, "When we're not here" is designed to keep team members focused on saving energy each time they leave their work areas, whether it's for their lunch break or when they go home at the end of the work day.

"It's about what we can do to reduce energy every day," said Arthur Howard, energy team member.

The base's energy efforts are concentrated in three buckets: renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation, said Mr. Howard

"We are working all of these pieces together," Mr. Howard said. "We have evolved into a lot more than energy conservation."

In the renewable energy bucket, the team has made great strides by forming a partnership with the Georgia Energy Innovation Center, Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech and the Engineering Outreach Center at the University of Georgia.

The partnership will allow the base to explore the possibility of using existing and new renewable energy resources and technology to meet Robins' energy demands.

"We believe Robins has a good opportunity to convert energy derived from fossil fuel energy sources to locally derived renewable energy sources. We are partnering with the state of Georgia and the state universities to determine renewable energy options for Robins Air Force Base, which will increase energy efficiency and reduce Robins' environmental impact," said Judah Bradley, energy manager.

The organizations will conduct an analysis to determine what renewable energy sources would be feasible at Robins, allowing the base to continue to support the warfighter in a more environmentally friendly way.

The energy team agrees the base's desire to be a leader in renewable energy offers unusual opportunities to conserve energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption.

One of the efforts the group is presently working on in the energy efficiency bucket is an audit of the 402nd Maintenance Wing.

"Energy audits provide in-depth looks into energy usage in our facilities and processes. Audits provide essential information on how to reduce Robins' energy use and costs. As examples, our energy audits will include the flightline air compression plant and waste water treatment plants, Mr. Bury said.

The energy team will audit some of the wing's high-energy-use maintenance or industrial facilities including Bldgs. 140, 169, 125, 50 and 54.

The maintenance wing is the largest energy consumer at Robins so the wing has a vested interest in reducing energy use, Mr. Bury said.largest energy consumer at Robins so the wing has a vested interest in reducing energy use, Mr. Bury said.

The audit will allow the wing to understand how they are consuming energy and help them look for opportunities to reduce consumption, lower costs and increase efficiency, Mr. Bradley said.

The results of the energy audits will be used to prioritize energy reduction efforts in fiscal 2009, helping Robins meet its overall energy reduction efforts, Mr. Howard said.

Though the energy team is convinced Team Robins is hearing the energy conservation message, they are still working to find new ways for the Robins community to conserve energy. "Obviously, the whole base has embraced energy conservation. Electrical consumption is down nearly 6 percent from March through July of this year compared to last year with a greater than $600,000 cost avoidance," Mr. Bury said.

The team said no matter what bucket they are focusing on the people implementing the culture change are the driving force behind reaching the base's energy goals on all three energy buckets.

"Energy reduction is a cultural change which requires us to take conservation steps within our control and to hold each other accountable in order to achieve energy goals," said Jeane Paris energy team member.

It doesn't matter whether they are implementing a more energy efficient maintenance process or they make powering down their work areas a part of their daily routine, each individual effort puts Robins on the right track, according to the team.

"Ultimately it is the people who make the difference with energy conservation. With nearly 75 percent of energy consumption directly controlled by individuals, each of us are on the front line," said Dinh Le, Energy Office.

Commander Kill A Watt and the energy team are once again calling on Team Robins as the Labor Day Holiday begins Friday. The team asks for all members to use the energy checklist to ensure energy waste is eliminated before departing the base. 

When We're not here end of day reminders
Turn off lights
Turn off computer monitors, speakers, printers, shredders by power strip or unplug
Unplug electronic chargers when not in use
Turn off printers, copiers and fax machines
Unplug coffee pots and microwaves
Unplug TV's and DVD's
Unplug plasma screens and radios
Close windows and doors
Turn off bathroom and conference room lights when exiting