Peterson C-130 facility earns energy, environmental design award

by Ann Skarban
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/5/2014 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 302nd Airlift Wing's newly constructed C-130 Operations Squadron facility was awarded recognition as a Silver-level certified Leader in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED building during a presentation by the Army Corps of Engineers here July 22.

LEED is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and is intended to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.

According to the Peterson-based Army Corps of Engineer's Heather Duggan and presenter of building 890A's Silver award, the C-130 operations building's recognition as a LEED building was due to several functional and design elements including low-flow water use, lighting control, occupancy sensors, natural light usage, use of recycled content in construction, use of wood from sustainable forests, exterior sun shades that reduce the solar load, recycling of construction debris and a high efficiency heating, ventilation and cooling system.

"The award is representative of the dedication by the contractor, base and user to build with sustainable resources that will last into the future. This building is only one of four on Peterson Air Force base to earn this recognition," said Duggan as she presented the Silver award plaques to Lt. Col. Jason Terry, 52nd Airlift Squadron commander.

The 12,500 square foot facility located within the 302nd AW's main campus near the intersection of Dover and Suffolk Streets was constructed in 2011 and early 2012 to house the C-130 operations function for the Active Duty 52nd AS that associated with the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd AW in October 2009. Approximately 300 Airmen in the 52nd AS and 302nd AW's 731st AS use this facility both during the weekdays and on Reserve training weekends to maintain operational readiness for the C-130 airlift and airdrop as well as Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions. The building is comprised of office space, a conference room, a 210-seat briefing room and open work areas conducive to stand-alone network computer usage allowing both Active Duty and Reserve members who do not have individual work stations access to network computers.

In addition to providing increased energy efficiency, the selected location for building 890A and its floor plan allows for a high level of functionality and is attributed to the success of the association of the Active Duty and Reserve C-130 flying squadron.

Describing the building's design and physical integration with the existing 302nd AW buildings Terry said, "The location of the building facilitates integration through joint use space. When we integrated with the 302nd we found a way to make the whole thing better." [Building 890A was constructed as an adjoining building to the existing 302nd AW buildings 895 and 890, forming a U-shaped, open-access building].

"The long term efficiencies result in measurable cost savings across the Air Force. We see these cost savings in both the new building and Total Force Integration across the Air Force," added Terry.

"Efficient construction methods and new technologies based on American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (ASHRE) standards allow for energy reductions," said Randy Hawke, Facilities Excellence Architect and LEED Green Associate with Peterson AFB's 21 Civil Engineer Squadron.

"Peterson Air Force Base is in the forefront in adhering to LEED requirements, working to have more sustainable facilities especially relative to energy and water savings," added Hawke.