Earth Day -Time to reflect

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  As Airmen observe Earth Day April 22, and reflect on different ways to protect and improve the planet, Ellsworth is participating by continuing the ENERGY STAR® "Operation Change Out," campaign, while also continuing its current energy conservation performance record.

For Operation Change Out, a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Energy, Ellsworth and 64 other Air Force Bases will continue or begin to replace incandescent bulbs with new energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. The campaign supports Air Combat Command's Energy Conservation Campaign, which demands a 20 percent reduction in energy use by the year 2020.

The campaign, which began Earth Day 2008, has helped replace more than 228,000 bulbs Air Force-wide. Ellsworth participated in this number by replacing over 800 traditional bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs in dormitories here and various other main facilities beginning in April 2008.

As a result, Ellsworth managed to reduce their energy intensity for fiscal year 2009 by six percent, more than twice the Air Force goal, and managed to reduce electrical costs by 4.6 percent, said Dell Petersen, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Base Energy manager.

Along with reducing Ellsworth's energy intensity, the overall gas natural gas consumption has been reduced by nearly two percent.

"This is amazing when consider our temperatures have been 11 percent colder than last year with average wind velocities of six percent or higher," Mr. Petersen said. "A prolonged winter and extended cooling season can often make this success difficult."

The use of advance metering system, which became operational in December 2008, has also allowed energy managers to accurately monitor utility consumption in 67 different buildings. The data from the new system has already allowed Ellsworth to reduce energy costs by matching facilities energy use to mission capability, Mr. Petersen said.

Success has also been accomplished in Ellsworth's water consumption, which has been reduced by 17 percent due to aggressive and recurring leak detection and structural repairs by members of the 28 CES, Mr. Petersen said. 

"The solutions that Ellsworth has employed have allowed us to move closer to a greener and sustainable future," said John Morgenstern, 28 CES Natural and Cultural resources program manager. "They help continue our mission while also maintaining the environment Ellsworth needs to perform them in."

The decreases in energy use that resulted from these improvements in 2008, have allowed the 28 CES to be awarded the $148,000 energy award from ACC.

This award has allowed Ellsworth to purchase 3,000 more compact fluorescent light bulbs, advancing Operation Change Out, and will be used to convert conventional taxiway fixtures and distance-to-go markers on the flight line to Light Emitting Diode.

Despite these advances, Ellsworth still has more improvements planned to achieve and maintain ACC goals.

"With increased electrical raters for fiscal year 2009, quarterly electrical costs have increased by 20 percent despite reductions in consumption," Mr. Petersen said. "There are also at least 6,500 inefficient light fixtures at Ellsworth that need to be replaced."

Despite these challenges, the observance of Earth Day provides Ellsworth members with a chance to pause, just like on military safety days, and refocus on what improvements need to be made at Ellsworth, said Mr. Petersen.

The possibility of a "greener future" for Ellsworth also provides motivation.

"We are proud Ellsworth Airmen will once again observe Earth Day," said Lt. Col. John Allen, 28 CES commander. "In doing so, we pause to reflect on the environment, and this year, to focus on finding solutions to reduce our energy consumption, ultimately sustaining the Air Force's position as the national leader in the purchase of 'green' power."