Aviano eyes forward on energy efficient future

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  As National Energy Awareness Month came to an end Oct. 31, Aviano Air Base continues to look to the future to find ways to reduce its energy consumption and focus on "putting all the pieces together" for a "sustainable energy future" as was this year's observance theme.

Units across the 31st Fighter Wing have and are continuing to do their share to reduce the base's energy consumption - a utility bill that averages about $29,500 per day.

"Energy has become a worldwide political, strategic and critical issue," said Renzo Basso, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager. "A wise use, effective saving and conservation actions are among the basic everyday key factors for success that everyone can do. We can and must help to reduce the base's utility bill."

With the formation of the 31st CES asset management optimization office last year, many ideas were generated in terms of improving and optimizing energy management across the base. Several energy and water conservation and renewable energy projects were developed and have been approved for execution in the near future.

One of the projects that will unfold is the installation of a geothermal system at the Dragon Fitness Center located in Area F. The system will provide hot domestic water and cold water for air conditioning.

"The system will consist of several hundreds of probes about 100 meters long installed into the ground to collect energy and heating from the ground to be converted into power via exchange units," said Marco Dallatorre, 31st CES project management chief. "Motors, pumps, mechanical rooms and other systems and devices will complete the installation. Once this project is in place, it will sensibly reduce the facility's power bill via a natural pollution-free system."

Mr. Dallatorre added that if all goes well, the construction project should begin early next year.

Another base unit to make major strides in energy conservation is the 31st Medical Group, who recently became eligible for the Department of Energy's Energy Star certification, the first for any hospital overseas.

"The 31st MDG has dramatically cut its energy use, saving hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars and making the hospital the 'greenest' in the Air Force," said Lt. Col. John Savage, 31st Medical Support Squadron commander. "When the new hospital first opened in July 2006, we had very high energy bills. Group leadership directed our facility management contractor to conduct a study of possible energy saving initiatives. The study became our roadmap to energy saving success. We began with no-cost efforts that brought early success such as sensors to turn off lights automatically, and setting temperatures based on the time of day, time of year and type of work done in each section."

"Increased savings, while continuing to support the group patient care mission, became a goal of the group's leadership," he said. "But the real credit goes to Manuela Solda, 31st MDG facility manager and the entire hospital staff who have adopted an energy saving mindset in their work and the outstanding facility management staff who are tireless in their energy saving efforts."

Colonel Savage added that by reducing the facility's energy costs, the hospital was able to redirect the savings toward improving patient care with expanded services.

"Some of last year's savings were used to obtain equipment that will expand our orthopedic surgery capability supporting the Aviano and Vicenza patient communities," he said.

Other organizations who have made a positive impact in reducing Aviano AB's energy bill is the 31st Force Support Squadron lodging and 31st CES electrical shop, which together replaced more than 1,000 incandescent light bulbs with more efficient Energy Star compact fluorescent bulbs which save up to 75-80 percent of energy.

"This project not only decreases man hours spent changing light bulbs, but it saves the base money by not having to buy new light bulbs as often," said Salvatore Riccio of the 31st Force Support Squadron.

Mr. Basso added that something as simple as using Energy Star products is something anyone can do and it can make a major impact in the long run.

"No matter how big the problem may appear, the fact remains that each of us is a part of the solution," he said. "Every day, each of us can change our habits and attitude by making energy a consideration in all we do both at work and at home."

For energy saving tips, visit the Department of Energy Web site at www.energy.gov/energysavingtips.htm.