Incirlik Innovation: How Team Incirlik saved a million dollars

  • Published
  • By By Staff Sgt. Veronica Pierce
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Editor's note: This series is designed to highlight innovative ideas, programs and actions that have or can save the Air Force money as well as improve mission readiness.

With the geographical location of Incirlik Air Base being in a warm climate, a high rate of energy consumption could potentially be a problem.

Due to efforts here to find innovative ways to reduce energy consumption, Incirlik AB had an overall energy cost savings of $1,081,606 during the past 11-months.

"To my knowledge this is the largest energy savings over the past three years," said 1st Lt. Jordan Jackson, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight commander. "We continue to reduce our energy consumption from fiscal year 2011 through 2013. However, this year was a bit more dramatic than most years due to the energy savings projects as well as a favorable exchange rate between the Turkish Lira and U.S. Dollar."

The Department of Defense mandated a reduction of energy consumption of 30 percent by the year 2015 across all military instillations. According to Jackson, the 39th CES is working continuously to ensure Incirlik meets this requirement.

The base has made investments in the last couple of years such as solar hot-water heating systems at 19 facilities and installing a grey-water irrigation system at the Hodja Lakes Golf Course.

Other projects include replacing and upgrading inefficient lights and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units with energy-efficient types. With upcoming upgrades, annual savings are estimated at $350,000.

Military family housing renovations are underway as well, and are planned to contribute to long-term savings. When completed, 671 units will have been updated with energy efficient appliances.

The plans to find new ways to save money don't stop with these programs though.

"In the near future, the Residential Energy Efficiency Program will be placed in renovated housing units," said Artemiz Avci, 39th CES maintenance engineering and planning chief and base energy manager. "It is a wireless energy monitor that shows instant, history and average energy consumption, cost and carbon-dioxide emission. The aim of this program is to make the community aware of their consumption and help reduce the energy by [them] turning off the unused equipment in houses and changing daily habits."

Through these upgrades, base residents can continue to contribute to the goal to surpass the million-dollar energy savings in the coming years.

Since recently published conservation memorandums and activities that took place throughout the month of May during Incirlik's Energy Action Month, the base has seen an increase in energy awareness in the community, explained Avci. These memorandums outline "no-heat, no-cool" season criteria, thermostat settings and watering hours for all areas.

Taking small energy saving steps as a community will aid in reducing consumption, and will help to reach DoD reduction goals, said Avci.

"Overall, the less energy we use the better it is for our environment for future generations, as well as the added benefit of saving U.S. taxpayers' money," said Jackson.