Sheppard makes improvements with AETC energy program award winnings Published Oct. 5, 2011 By Senior Airman Adawn Kelsey 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Sheppard earned second place in Air Education & Training Command's Energy Use Reduction Program. The base received $1 million, which was spent on improving infrastructure, communication network infrastructure and quality of life. Maj. James Becker, 82nd Comptroller Squadron commander, said the money awarded helped pay for the items which otherwise might not have been purchased. "These items have been on Sheppard's list, yet due to funding availability, have not been within reach. The funds allowed for improvements to base infrastructure by replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, the communications network infrastructure (large switches), and quality of life items at the gym including new cardio machines, weights and re-vamping the racquetball courts." Maj. Wade Dillard, 82nd Communications Squadron commander said the large switches will replace about a third of the network with more energy efficient switches. "Switches are like traffic controllers," he said. "The large switches direct the traffic for about 1,000 accounts each on the network and are on 24/7. By replacing the old switches with the new equipment we will be saving about 8 percent energy annually. Once installed the new network assets will be ten times faster on base and about twice as fast on other official services. This improved communications capability is very important in the information age and to Sheppard's technical training mission." One way Sheppard reduced its energy consumption was by making infrastructure changes around base that were funded through the Energy Reduction program. The projects included installing new energy efficient lighting fixtures and controls throughout 35 buildings around base and reconfiguring a chiller plant which had a savings impact of more than $1 million. Edward Jordan, Base Energy manager, said the projects that are being completed now and the upcoming projects for 2012 will reduce energy usage even more. "There are several more projects which will begin within the next few months," he said. "Multiple facilities will be equipped with energy management control systems, which means the heating and air conditioning of a building will be controlled by a central location instead of by the occupants of the building. New energy efficient light fixtures will be installed in 24 buildings and the taxiway on the air field will be converted to LED lighting which will drastically reduce energy usage." Glynn Batla, Sheppard's resource efficiency manager, said the base populace was also responsible for the energy use reduction this year. "About 75 percent of the energy savings contributed to the infrastructure changes around the base and 25 percent to the base populace," he said. "Educating the base populace on what energy reduction is, from turning off or unplugging appliances to reminding them to only water after 6 a.m. and before 11 p.m. has really made a difference."