The Air Force is increasing efforts to reduce the demand for energy using
good building design, advanced planning tools for operations, more
efficient jet engines and better conservation practices, said Dr. Ronald
Sega, Undersecretary of the Air Force.
According to Dr. Sega, the Air Force is also looking at alternative
sources of energy, from potential conversion of natural gas or coal to jet
fuel, to increased use of renewable energy sources.
In October, the Air Force won a 2005 Green Power Leadership Award for its
commitment to green power as the nation's largest purchaser of renewable
energy for 2004. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
the U.S. Department of Energy and the Center for Resource Solutions, the
award recognizes organizations whose actions help advance the development
of the nation's renewable energy market.
In fact, in 2005, the Air Force purchased more than a million megawatts of
energy derived from wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy
sources, Dr. Sega said. This million-plus megawatt represents a threefold
increase over the 2004 amount, and is enough energy to power the needs of
70,000 average-size homes for an entire year.
"We're committed to leading by example when it comes to energy
conservation," Dr. Sega said. "With the high price of fuel, an important
resource for our mission, it's important to look at how we use energy in
all areas. We need to constantly look at how we're powering our facilities
and make sure we're doing so in the most efficient manner possible."
Two of the Air Force's success stories are Dyess and Fairchild Air Force
bases, located in Texas and Washington respectively. The ground facilities
on the two installations are powered 100 percent by renewable energy, Dr.
Sega said.
Additionally, the Air Force is constantly looking for ways to make its
flying operations more energy conscious, with ongoing research into more
efficient jet engines and unconventional fuels for current and future
aircraft.
As an example of this, efficient flying operations within Air Mobility
Command (AMC) are a team effort, said Lt. Col. Bruce Sayre, 60th
Operations Group Aircrew Standardization Evaluation chief at Travis Air
Force Base, Calif. "Aviation fuel conservation doesn't happen without a
total team effort within AMC. It involves the AMC Tanker Airlift Control
Center mission development branch analyzing and developing efficient
mission profiles to maximize aircraft use while minimizing wasteful en
route stops and air refuelings," he said.
Some results of Air Force efforts include:
-- The Air Force is the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the
United States.
-- 11 percent of electricity the Air Force purchases comes from renewable
energy sources.
-- Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the largest purchaser of renewable
energy, with 138 million kilowatt hours of power purchased each year -
enough to satisfy 60 percent of its electrical needs.
-- Air Force installation of wind farms at Ascension Island and F.E.
Warren AFB, Wyo.
-- Reduction of Air Force energy use by 30 percent since 1985.
-- One quarter of the Air Force's vehicle fleet is flex-fuel capable
vehicles.