78th FSS ‘energized’ to make energy a top concern Published June 11, 2010 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- When it comes to energy conservation on Robins, the 78th Force Support Squadron is making a strong statement. Despite the fact most of its 65 facilities operate for extended hours and many of them operate around the clock, and it services an average of 15,000 customers a day, FSS is one of the true pacesetters for energy savings on the installation. One of the most visible energy conservation projects in FSS was completed in 2009, when it installed timers on the lights of the fitness center track. Customers can set the timers for up to two hours. After the chosen time, the lights automatically shut off. Photo-electric cells also prevent the lights from being turned on during the day. While working on the timers, FSS also discovered full banks of "flood lights" were not needed to illuminate the track. It replaced them with eight, lower level lights, which has led to further energy savings. But it hasn't stopped there. With the help of the Robins Energy Office and Georgia Power, the squadron had an "energy use" audit of the Fitness Center and Horizons Club. The audit revealed where the squadron could reap an additional $50K in annual savings by making changes to the facilities' lighting, heating and air conditioning systems, and cooking equipment. Meanwhile, with the help of Col. Carl Buhler, 78th Air Base Wing commander, FSS made a number of long-overdue energy efficient upgrades in its facilities. Buhler temporarily "covered the cost of utilities in the clubs, bowling center and base restaurant," which provided FSS the needed money to purchase, among other things, a water/power saving dishwasher and power washer for the base restaurant, LED outdoor scoreboards for the sports fields, and replace light bulbs throughout the clubs, lodging, and a number of its other operations. Perhaps the squadron's greatest known potential for energy savings is a project at the main Fitness Center. While only in the planning stages, the project would replace existing metal halide fixtures in the facility with energy-saving, rapid start fluorescent fixtures along with daylight and occupancy sensor controls. The new fixtures and controls are expected to reduce by as much as 50 percent the energy needed to light the center. "We have only started to scratch the surface of the potential energy savings in the squadron, and each time we meet more low-cost ideas are brought to the surface," said David Quinn, 78th FSS director.