28th CES electric shop holds power
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles about the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron and all they offer to the 28th Bomb Wing.
Whether it's the lights lining the airfield, bulbs in the ceiling, or the outlet the coffee pot plugs into, the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems shop works hard to keep the power flowing in support of 28th Bomb Wing mission.
"To sum it up, we keep the lights on," said Tech. Sgt. Carl Wankowski, 28th CES electric shop NCO in charge. "With the winter storms coming, we're gearing up for them and doing preventive maintenance."
Electrical systems Airmen perform annual utility pole maintenance prior to inclement weather in order to reduce the number of power outages due to heavy snow fall.
"We saw a lot of problems that could create bigger problems, so instead of the power going out at 2 a.m., which inconveniences everybody, we take the circuit down when it is convenient for us and the entire base populous," Wankowski explained.
Not only does the electric shop fix faulty fire alarms and utility poles, they also maintain emergency lights, exit lights, receptacles, power outlets and street lights.
In 2013, the 28th CES started a streetlight initiative, a $250,000 Department of Energy project to switch all streetlights and parking lot lights on the base to energy efficient LED lights.
To date, this initiative has reduced the base's overall energy consumption by 65 percent, saving Ellsworth $40,000 annually. He added that the parking lots have begun the transition to become more energy efficient.
Wankowski added that some people take simple things like electricity and plumbing for granted and don't realize what it takes to maintain those creature comforts.
"Everything you take for granted-until it's not there," Wankowski said. "The perk I think a lot of the guys get out of it is, when they turn that light switch on to the whole base... when the base is black and comes back on, it's pretty exciting."
Wankowski explained how, having just arrived in August of 2013, he was still learning how the shop operated when the blizzard hit in October.
"That was my crash course in base distribution," he said. "I had a young Airman up at the substation when the base was completely black and we lost an incoming feed. I let him turn on the lights to [the entire] base."
"Watching bit by bit as the base comes online, that's pretty cool," Wankowski said. "It's the most rewarding part."
Whether it's the lights lining the airfield, bulbs in the ceiling, or the outlet the coffee pot plugs into, the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems shop works hard to keep the power flowing in support of 28th Bomb Wing mission.
"To sum it up, we keep the lights on," said Tech. Sgt. Carl Wankowski, 28th CES electric shop NCO in charge. "With the winter storms coming, we're gearing up for them and doing preventive maintenance."
Electrical systems Airmen perform annual utility pole maintenance prior to inclement weather in order to reduce the number of power outages due to heavy snow fall.
"We saw a lot of problems that could create bigger problems, so instead of the power going out at 2 a.m., which inconveniences everybody, we take the circuit down when it is convenient for us and the entire base populous," Wankowski explained.
Not only does the electric shop fix faulty fire alarms and utility poles, they also maintain emergency lights, exit lights, receptacles, power outlets and street lights.
In 2013, the 28th CES started a streetlight initiative, a $250,000 Department of Energy project to switch all streetlights and parking lot lights on the base to energy efficient LED lights.
To date, this initiative has reduced the base's overall energy consumption by 65 percent, saving Ellsworth $40,000 annually. He added that the parking lots have begun the transition to become more energy efficient.
Wankowski added that some people take simple things like electricity and plumbing for granted and don't realize what it takes to maintain those creature comforts.
"Everything you take for granted-until it's not there," Wankowski said. "The perk I think a lot of the guys get out of it is, when they turn that light switch on to the whole base... when the base is black and comes back on, it's pretty exciting."
Wankowski explained how, having just arrived in August of 2013, he was still learning how the shop operated when the blizzard hit in October.
"That was my crash course in base distribution," he said. "I had a young Airman up at the substation when the base was completely black and we lost an incoming feed. I let him turn on the lights to [the entire] base."
"Watching bit by bit as the base comes online, that's pretty cool," Wankowski said. "It's the most rewarding part."
