Energy-saving competition begins

Published March 20, 2012
Kirtland Air Force Base Energy Management Office

Kirtland AIr Force Base, N.M. -- The Air Force Safety Center and the Air Force Inspection Agency versus Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center energy- savings competition began March 1. The competition will conclude at the end of March, with the winner announced in the Nucleus.

Kirtland AFB is moving toward meeting its mandated 3 percent energy reduction goals, through this friendly energy savings competition, and energy conservation awareness throughout the base.

During March, Buildings 20325 (AFNWC) and 24499 (AFSC & AFIA) will have their electrical energy tracked weekly via electric meters that have been installed in each facility. The baseline for the savings will be measured as electric energy intensity, kilowatt hour per square foot compared to the same month last year. Building 20325 has 37,387 SF and used 1.3566 KWH/ SF during March 2011 and building 24499 has 106,900 SF and used 1.7310 KWH/SF during March 2011.

As part of the competition and energy savings effort, facility managers across the base have received energy conservation training and a related checklist.

Everyone at Team Kirtland can help their facilities and the base save energy by paying attention to all electrical devices in their areas. Energy-saving tips and articles will be published in the Nucleus.

This year, Kirtland AFB anticipates a reduction in energy funding from previous years. Other items in the budget will suffer if we are not successful in reducing our energy usage.

We all need to keep energy reduction in mind for everything we do - in our missions on base and in our homes.

Energy-saving tips

· When you come to work, look at the ceiling to see if the lights are on, including the vestibules. Can any of these lights be turned off without affecting workplace safety and efficiency? Task lighting is normally at each desk, making it possible to shut off overhead lights, especially if the office is on an outside wall where daylight is available.

· Use a facility common area microwave, coffee maker and refrigerator, instead of one in your office.

· As you walk around the facility, turn off lights in unoccupied locations, such as empty conference rooms, break rooms or copy rooms.

· Consider turning off all copiers, faxes and similar devices for the day, especially after duty hours.

· Turn off outside lights if they are not necessary all night. Use lower-wattage bulbs in areas where lights must remain on at night. Install outdoor lighting with motion sensors instead of leaving outdoor lights on all night.

· Turn on specialized equipment only when needed.

Did you know?

· Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent light bulbs.

· CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

· By using a CFL in a frequently used lamp, you can save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.

· CFLs produce about 75 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with cooling.

· You could shave as much as $65 per year off your electric bill by replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs.

Use CFLs safely

Since all fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury, care should be taken when disposing of a used CFL or cleaning up a broken one. Mercury is released only when a fluorescent bulb breaks. When a bulb is intact, the mercury is safely sealed in the glass tubing.