35 CS saves energy with AFNET

by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/10/2012 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- When the Air Force executed the Air Force Network migration project throughout the Department of Defense, the desired effect was to reduce security problems, high operation costs and maintenance costs.

Just two weeks ago, the 35th Communication Squadron's savings report proved part of this theory was correct. The AFNET migration saves energy.

So far, the 35 CS saved an annual amount of 172,000 kilowatt-hours of energy, which is over 200,000 kwh more kwh saved before the migration. That's approximately $33,000 in energy costs per year that the 35 CS is saving the base, said Tech. Sgt. Jeff Gall, 35 CS NCO in charge of network operations.

"The main cause for that reduction is because we got rid of 49 of our servers during the migration," said Gall.

And what better time to find out your department is helping the base to save thousands of dollars than in the month of October, which is Air Force Energy Action Month.

"Although the server migration was not one of our projects, its evident this project is saving the base thousands of dollars," said Cari Schroeder, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron resource efficiency manager.

Previously known as Energy Awareness Month, the Energy Action Month Campaign urges the military and civilian population to do more than educate themselves and wear t-shirts with this year's theme 'I am Air Force Energy' on them. This year, the Energy Department wants everyone to take action.

The Air Force has asked all bases to cut their energy consumption down 60% by 2020. To make this task easier, the base is attempting to get its' energy consumption down 30% by 2015.

The 35 CS's accomplishments are already a big help to meeting that goal, said Schroeder, and it's why she is optimistic the base will meet this quota.

"Everybody plays a part in this," said Schroeder. "There are so many reasons to save energy, including being good stewards to our host nation and helping the environment to stay healthy. Not to mention, all of the money we save goes to other things...like new equipment and quality of life items."