October celebrates energy awareness month Published Oct. 20, 2010 By Ricardo Antonini Energy Management Office AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- October celebrates National Energy Awareness Month with the theme, "A New Culture: Energy as an Operations Enabler." This year's theme follows the Air Force Energy Strategy, which was founded on the three pillars of reducing demand, increasing supply and changing culture. The recent push to reduce energy consumption in federal facilities is driven by Executive Order 13423, which implements the National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 2005. The order requires federal facilities to reduce their energy consumption by 30 percent per square foot and 16 percent water usage by the end of the 2015 fiscal year. This challenge requires a combination of individual and organizational actions to conserve energy through changes in habits and specific capital investments to decrease energy demand. Aviano's energy program goal is to maximize savings through common sense initiatives and the installation of new technologies. Aviano has been successful in meeting the 3 percent annual energy intensity reduction goal for the last two years, but the ultimate goal of reducing energy consumption is an ever evolving process. Base energy conservation experts along with the support of base leadership have made some great strides in meeting the challenges of the three pillar energy strategy. Some of these initiatives include : Reduce demand The 31st Civil Engineer Squadron recently created an energy team composed of installation energy experts to develop projects and initiatives that will reduce energy consumption on base. Some projects completed in 2010 are already producing results. The replacement of street lights with high efficiency bulbs, the installation of a geothermal system at the Dragon Fitness Center, the replacement of oil burners with gas, and the continuous replacement of incandescent light bulbs with the new Energy Star lights are projects that have helped and will continue to improve Aviano's energy consumption rate. Despite the many energy-reduction projects being worked on, water consumption is still an open issue. Testing for leaks in the water network, replacing old pipes in Area F and developing a new irrigation system in the golf course and sports grounds are projects in play that will drastically reduce water consumption. However, everybody's help in avoiding waste is needed. Increase supply Aviano's energy team implemented a new geothermal system that feeds the fitness center with renewable energy. This renewable system has been successfully tested since September. The geothermal project, the first of its kind ever installed in any U.S. Air Forces in Europe base, should manifest the first results in the next month with an improved hot sanitary water system. Base officials expect to see major results during the spring and summer months when the air conditioning system will be turned on. The energy savings are expected to reach more than 20 percent. Cultural change Aviano officials are determined to implement cultural change through the commitment of the leadership to motivate military members and civilians to "Make Energy Consideration in All We Do." No matter how big the problem may appear, each person is part of the solution. The energy team's ultimate goal is to accomplish energy consumption milestones without impacting the 31st Fighter Wing mission. The result will be reduction of energy consumption and creation of a more efficient work force. Change is rarely easy, but it benefits everyone.