Training command becomes energy-efficient force

by Master Sgt. Paul Kilgallon
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

5/19/2010 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Officials released a new energy plan in December to serve as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals to expand a culture shift where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything they do.

The priorities now involve energy-focused considerations from initial design and acquisition through effective use of Air Force resources.

The AETC members play a critical role in helping to achieve a lasting culture change by molding our Airmen right from the beginning, said Debra Tune, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for logistics.

The 2010 energy plan charged the Air Force to not only improve energy management, but to also increase energy conservation awareness efforts throughout the Air Force.

"AETC (officials have) an aggressive energy management program through which we strive to make AETC the Air Force benchmark in energy efficiency and conservation," said Col. Lee Pittman, the AETC technical training division chief. "We have examined our existing training courses to see where we might be able to incorporate energy awareness principles into our course content so we can educate our Airmen on the importance of energy conservation."

Colonel Pittman said AETC installations have incorporated energy awareness campaigns at every level to include the first term airmen centers at each base in order to reinforce energy management principles as a way of life.

"The goal of the Air Force and AETC energy programs are to incorporate energy conservation in everything we do," Colonel Pittman said. "Energy conservation and awareness starts in basic training, technical training, flying training and at all levels of professional military education. Through this awareness, our Airmen contribute not only their individual efforts, but build and sustain the culture of making energy conservation the cornerstone in all our activities."

AETC is also taking a proactive role in the development of energy strategies and programs to reduce energy consumption across the command.

"AETC ... absolutely has the first opportunity to make our new recruits aware of the energy issue," said Bruce Nadler, the AETC installations and mission support, energy and infrastructure section chief. "We also have the opportunity to see them again and again, as they (Airmen) come back through technical training and again for professional military education at all levels."

Mr. Nadler said the challenge of the energy awareness program is similar to challenges faced with the recycling program.

"When the recycling paper program started, the campaign was not very successful," Mr. Nadler said. "However, Air Force (members) are better at recycling now because of the focus and the emphasis the Air Force placed on the program to increase awareness to make recycling part of our thought process, and how they can do something about it."

In order to ensure AETC members are informed of the current energy conservation efforts, an energy independence and security roadmap was developed.

"The roadmap is basically a strategic plan for saving energy," Mr. Nadler said. "The plan shows where we are, where we want to go, and it also gives an end state where we (AETC) reduce energy usage and at the same time develop renewable energy, so by the year 2050, we are producing on base all the power we need for that base to function."

Mr. Nadler said that some of the things that prevent us from accomplishing this quickly have to do with cost and technology for more effective ways of harnessing renewable energy sources that have not been created yet. However, this has not hampered the Air Force or AETC in maximizing current technology to pursue ways to use renewable energy.

"If you look at solar energy, for example, we have a huge project going on at Luke (Air Force Base, Ariz.), that is being developed to build 15 to 17 megawatts (90 percent of the requirement) of solar power generation right there on the base," Mr. Nadler said. "Basically, what we are doing is using solar panels to collect sunlight and turn that into electricity."

Along with solar energy, AETC is also using the wind as a source of renewable energy, Mr. Nadler said.

"Right now, we have a contract with a retail electric provider who is working with a company in Corpus Christi, (Texas), to actually construct four wind turbines specifically for Air Force use that will supply Laughlin AFB, (Texas)," Mr. Nadler said. "This will bring in the neighborhood of six to eight megawatts to the base."