Base gets $6.1 million for energy conservation projects Published Sept. 24, 2010 By Glynn Batla 82nd Training Wing resource efficiency manager SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Sheppard AFB recently received $6.1 million from U.S. Air Staff to support energy conservation projects to be completed over the next six to nine months. The funds will maximize four large projects that will reduce utility consumption costs by more than $1.5 million annually. Two of the projects focus on modernizing the interior lighting systems on Sheppard AFB. Forty-four buildings with antiquated lighting systems are scheduled for upgrades that will introduce new lighting fixtures or controls that feature some of the newest technology on the market. Energy savings per fixture will be between 40 and 70 percent. The new fixtures will also provide greater visual acuity and provide a consistent distribution of light in work areas. The other two projects will involve chilled water plant upgrades located on Sheppard AFB. The projects are designed to relocate the chilled water piping system from the new central chiller plant to service several buildings in close proximity. This will eliminate the use of individual air-cooled chillers for those buildings. Edward Jordan, Sheppard AFB energy manager, said the amount of funds they received at one time is a huge success for the base. "Not only is every Air Force base mandated to meet energy reduction goals, but each base is diligently competing for the same funds," Mr. Jordan said. The energy team at Sheppard AFB supports the supply and consumption of every necessary watt of electricity, gallon of water and cubic foot of natural gas to successfully and comfortably accomplish the mission. "We can upgrade the lighting in a building using the most state of the art, technically advanced components on the market," Mr. Jordan said. "We can also design projects that produce optimal performance in our chiller plants. But without a unified effort by Team Sheppard to keep energy conservation a priority each day, we could potentially cancel out the savings that these upgrades produce. "October is Energy Awareness Month. We would like to encourage Team Sheppard's help and continued awareness to reduce unnecessary utility usage by all means possible," he added. For more information, contact the Sheppard AFB Energy Hotline at (940) 676-5668.