Energy team mandates conservation program

  • Published
  • By Lori Burling Alves
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Put your reading glasses on and start dressing in layers because the Air Force is getting tough on conserving energy at Incirlik Air Base.

Earlier this month, Col. "Tip" Stinnette, 39th Air Base Wing commander, and our team of energy experts launched a new energy conservation program, "Better Stewards of Energy, While Saving Us Money." After energizing residents to conserve electricity and water in their homes, Colonel Stinnette is now implementing several mandates that could save Incirlik approximately $300,000. They hope to do this by cutting the amount of energy being used from light resources, air conditioning and heating units.

"Our goal is to save roughly $300,000 by Sept. 30, simply by cutting our energy usage in the industrial buildings on base," said Colonel Stinnette.

The first mandate team Incirlik will enforce is to reduce light sources in all military offices and buildings by 50 percent. Basically, facility managers on base will remove every other light bulb in their building.

"If you have two light sources in your office, we ask that you use only one source," said Lt. Col. Scott Warner, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "In rooms, we'll remove every other light bulb and half the bulbs that are in fixtures."

Colonel Warner and his team insist that military members are using too much light and must take advantage of natural lighting.

"The money we save is only going to help us and the Air Force as a whole," said Colonel Warner.

Offices where personnel spend an extreme amount of time reading and scrutinizing paperwork will be taken in to consideration, Colonel Warner said.

"There will be plenty of light for an individual to do their job," he said.

The energy team also will urge personnel to make certain lights and all equipment, such as copy and fax machines, coffee pots and speakers, are turned off when not being used.

"Every bit counts," said Tom Carneal, deputy director of civil engineering, who also pays the utility bills at Incirlik.

The second mandate will involve the regulation of thermostats in military offices and buildings -- the thermostats will be turned off. Neither air conditioning nor heating units will be used from April 1 to June 15.

"This is the biggest opportunity we have to save money. Not running the AC or heating units during this time will amount in the most energy and most money saved," said Mr. Carneal.

Military personnel will be asked to open windows and use fans to circulate the air. It also will be advised to layer clothing to adjust to weather conditions. Of course, consideration will be taken in case of record-breaking cold or hot temperatures.

"There will be exceptions if it creates an unbearable work area, but we are taking this seriously. We all have a personal stake in this," said Colonel Warner. "We're helping the Air Force, and in turn, helping ourselves."