Sheppard, two other bases look to cut energy cost

  • Published
  • By Mike McKito
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The good news is that electricity and natural gas consumption for Sheppard has decreased for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2009. The bad news is that, even though natural gas prices have decreased slightly, higher electricity prices increased Team Sheppard's overall utility costs. 

To help combat these higher electricity prices, Sheppard has teamed with Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas, and Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas, to spend less. 

"This regional contract should result in Sheppard receiving a lower electric price in the long term," said 2nd Lt. Jeremy Gordon, 82nd Civil Engineer Squadron base energy manager. 

The FY 2009 goal for the base is to decrease energy consumption by 3 per cent. This was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which began in FY 2005 and requires bases to decrease consumption of energy by 30 per cent by the year 2015, or 3 per cent per year. 

The winter months traditionally see an increase in natural gas use - 40 per cent in January 2008 - and a decrease in electrical - 56 percent in January 2008 - because most buildings on Sheppard are heated by natural gas. These figures do an about-face in the summer months when natural gas usage is about 8 per cent and electricity spikes at about 81 percent, according to July 2008 figures. Air conditioning use is responsible for this huge jump. 

Lieutenant Gordon said there are several measures that can trim our utility costs. 

"Something simple like opening curtains and blinds on your south-facing windows in the winter months can let in the sun's rays and save natural gas heating," he said. 

Other energy-saving tips while at work are: closing window coverings during the summer months to prevent solar gain; turning off lights when not physically in the workplace; turning off computer monitors when leaving even for a few minutes; and installing motion sensors to automatically turn on/off office lights. 

According to the U. S. Department of Energy, a lesser-known energy saving tip is to unplug unused electrical appliances/objects when not in use. Many appliances, such as computers and electronic devices, continue to draw power even when they are turned off. 
For example, in the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power electronics is used while the products are turned off. To save electricity, either unplug these devices or use a power strip that can be turned on and off by the push of a button. 

"Initiating simple energy-saving tips can result in Sheppard using less utilities and saving more money," Lieutenant Gordon said.