RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The following information is provided by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office.
Energy conservation and energy security are central to all Airmen and their continued mission execution success. We will support the Joint mission while reducing demand, increasing supply and changing the culture around energy awareness. The Air Force is fostering a culture that seeks to improve operational efficiency and increase energy security in all our missions.
VIEW FROM THE TOP: "For the Air Force's part, we must embrace the notion that energy efficiency is not a stand-alone priority because it binds together and enables every dimension of our mission; and we must embrace the idea that energy efficiency affords us greater resiliency, which translates to greater capability and versatility."
- Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force
KEY MESSAGES, FACTS and FIGURES
- Every airman is charged with making energy a consideration in all we do. The Air Force is implementing training and education for our Airmen, civilians and contractors to drive the efforts to reduce energy demand, increase energy supply and change the culture.
- The Air Force's energy program is successfully and rapidly moving forward. Led by Under Secretary Erin Conaton, our Senior Energy Official, we are well underway in implementing the Air Force Energy Plan released in December 2009 and are driving to meet our goals and objectives.
- The Air Force is evaluating dozens of potential renewable energy projects across the country, including wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal, waste-to-energy and wave technologies to meet our goals requiring portions of all electricity used by the Air Force to be from renewable sources.
- In fiscal 2009, 5.8 percent of the Air Force's electricity was generated from renewable sources, exceeding the 5 percent goal for fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2012.
- The Air Force seeks to reduce fuel demand, while maintaining mission effectiveness, through increased operational and logistical efficiencies.
- Our energy initiatives are the right thing to do for the joint warfighter, our Airmen and the nation. Through policy, planning, execution, research, investment and incentives, the Air Force's logistical and environmental footprint will be reduced while accomplishing its mission.
- The Air Force seeks to increase energy security through access to alternative energy sources and increased use of assured energy production and control technology.
- In October 2010 the Air Force will complete renewable energy studies for more than 70 installations, enabling Air Force Energy Managers to build business case analyses for project implementation.
- The Air Force's first biomass-to-energy plants are in development at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Robins Air Force base, Ga.
- The Air Force Alternative Fuel Certification Office has certified more than 95 percent of the Air Force fleet, including all fighter aircraft, for unrestricted operations using a 50/50 blend of Fischer-Tropsch derived synthetic fuel and traditional JP-8.
- The Air Mobility Command Fuel Efficiency Office (FEO) was established in October 2008 to improve Mobility Air Force (MAF) efficiencies. The FEO is managing a portfolio of 33 different initiatives to optimize use of fuel without compromising MAF operations.
- Air Force Civil Engineers and Department of Energy laboratories are working together to conduct a first-of-its-kind scientifically based renewable energy study that spans all major Air Force installations.
FAST FACTS
- In fiscal 2009, 79 percent of Air Force energy was consumed in aviation fuel, 17 percent in facilities, and 4 percent in ground fuels.
- Since 2007, all Air Force construction projects have been required to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) Silver standards.
- In fiscal 2009, 5.8 percent of the Air Force's facility energy power came from renewable energy sources.
- More than 40 installations and radar sites now produce renewable energy using wind turbines, solar arrays, landfill gas generators, or ground source heat pumps.
- In August 2010, a C-17 test flight at Edwards AFB used a blend of JP-8, biomass-based renewable fuel and Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel to power the aircraft.
- The Aviano Air Base hospital in Italy is the first U.S. overseas facility to receive the EPA's Energy Star rating.
- The Air Force has identified 15 solar projects it hopes to construct and bring on line by 2013, three of which are as big as or bigger than the 14 MW array at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.