JBER saves through alternative energy

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

1/8/2015 - JONT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- In today's technological age, no matter what medium is used, most modern conveniences require energy to operate.

The U.S. as a whole largely relies on natural gas, coal and oil for energy. Alaska has fairly unique requirements due to the arctic environment.

The federal government has set goals to lower costs and save energy. Everyone can do their part to help, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is taking steps to do its.
The Anchorage municipal solid waste landfill, adjacent to base, collects and burns landfill gas to comply with regulations in the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

The gas is primarily methane, and the JBER Landfill Gas Waste-to-Energy Plant generates more than 56,000 megawatt hours, or 26.2 percent of JBER's electrical load.

The plant ensures JBER will exceed renewable energy goals established by EPA executive order. These mandates require federal agencies use renewable energy to meet at least 7.5 percent of total electric consumption.

Because the generator plant is located on JBER, the installation is able to double-count credit at 52.4 percent, or nearly seven times the goal.

"We're looking at [future] options," said Richard Hiatt, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager. "We're looking into a means of getting wind power. There are also various ways to harness power from the tide. Solar power is an option, but it doesn't work well in Alaska; we've done studies to install solar panels - I did the calculations and the benefits are just not there."

"Right now, we're saving between a third and half of the electrical costs, just on the Richardson side," said Morgan Benson, 673d CES energy performance specialist. "The final goal is to create as much energy as you are using, called net zero energy use."

The goals are the same all the way up the chain, he said. Achieving those benefits more than just JBER. PACAF, the Air Force, the Department of Defense and the federal government as a whole benefit, Benson said.

"If one base does more than their fair share, it really benefits all the way around," he said. "That's why this methane gas was such a big deal - it's more than just one year of savings; it was about 30 percent of the base as a whole."

The federal requirement is to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent in 2015.

Currently, there is the capacity to generate 50 percent of the power requirements on JBER-Richardson and 25 percent of the needs for the entire installation. In the years 2016 and 2017, an estimated 1.4 megawatts of power will be added, and in the near future, another unit will add an additional 1.4 megawatts of power to the installation. It's going to continue to grow based on the rate of gas at the plant, Hiatt said.

"For example, many homes use 60 watt bulbs - I think JBER is using about 600,000 of those 60 watt bulbs annually," Benson said. "One megawatt essentially will run 1,000 homes that are consuming 1,000 kilowatts each."

Other means of saving energy include automating resources, such as motion-detecting lights and water faucets.

People tend to leave both running, which adds up in wasted energy and costs, and automating them to turn off when not being used removes the human error, ultimately making up for the cost of upgrading the equipment.

The energy team is looking at the insulation of existing buildings, Benson said. "We're [also] changing out lights as fast as we can. It's easy, convenient and [results in] big savings."

Residents of the installation can take some basic steps to help save costs and make energy go as far as it can. Facility managers, or other representatives designated by the squadron and tenant-unit leadership, will be responsible for ensuring compliance with JBER energy policies.

In the latest policy letter signed by Air Force Col. Brian Bruckbauer, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander, ways to conserve energy include setting building thermostats no higher than 70 degrees during duty hours and no higher than 65 degrees during off-duty hours in administrative buildings. In shops and warehouses - not hangars - set building thermostats no higher than 65 degrees.

Turn off all copiers, computer monitors, printers, computer speakers and other computer peripherals at the end of each duty day (but not) computers. Mission-essential computers and office equipment should remain in operation.

Personal refrigerators intended for only one person's use are prohibited in work/office areas. Large and old refrigerators should be retired or used only for large functions requiring temporary food storage.

Review procedures within your unit to turn off unnecessary interior or exterior lighting that may be left on routinely, especially during periods of extended daylight. End-of-day facility checks should include procedures to turn off any lighting not necessary to meet mission, safety or security requirements.

Turn off lights where possible in unoccupied areas during the day. Maximize ambient, outside light and task lighting to safely illuminate areas.

Exterior lights that remain on during the periods of daylight, called "day burners," are prohibited. If controlled by photocells which no longer shut the lights off during daylight hours, facility managers should report them to the 773d CES customer service office at 552-3726/3727.

Purchase only compact fluorescent lamps or LED lamps for replacement of burned-out incandescent light bulbs. Contact your energy conservation office before to purchasing any CFLs.

The use of portable space heaters is highly discouraged.

Facility managers should be aware that LED fixtures will be considered in new construction designs for office, warehouse and maintenance facilities, and exterior lighting.

Facility managers also have the option to produce a detailed list of the incandescent bulbs or CFLs in their facility. The 773d CES energy team will include that building in the next LED lamp purchase.

"I'm an Engineer - we build things. That's what we love to do," Benson said. "It stays challenging."