Kimberly Woodruff
72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex continues reaching “Art of the Possible” goals as energy consumption falls.
Last April, the OC-ALC was the first U.S. federal government agency awarded ISO 50001 certification for energy management. This year, the first audit proved the ISO standards are being followed and are working.
The OC-ALC was audited in April, and passed with flying colors. As long as the annual audit shows energy consumption is being reduced and disciplined energy management processes are being followed, the OC-ALC can keep its certification.
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex paint hangar, Bldg. 3225, has received energy efficiency upgrades to their air-handling system and installation of LED lighting as part of the energy savings performance contract with Honeywell Automation and Control Systems. A Boeing E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft is shown in the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group’s paint hangar with the large filtration screens visible on the front wall and LED lighting overhead May 30 at Tinker Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)
The International Organization for Standardization, a nongovernmental group composed of 161 national standards bodies, sets the ISO 50001 certification standards for energy management practices that are employed extensively by large private sector companies.
“Currently Tinker Air Force Base is the third largest consumer of energy in the Air Force,” said Joseph Cecrle, OC-ALC Energy Manager. “We were number one in 2012, but were able to optimize energy usage through infrastructure and process improvements.”
In 2017 the OC-ALC reduced energy consumption by 147 billion British Thermal Units resulting in a cost savings of nearly $4.4 million.
“We’ve conserved energy and there is a decline. Last year at this time we used 64.87 MBTUs, and though we are using more energy than last year, we have more space than we did last year,” said Ngoc Tran, the utility manager with 72nd Civil Engineering. “Overall we are reducing.”
“We will continue to improve energy performance leveraging the OC-ALC culture of continuous process improvement,” said OC-ALC Energy Manager Joseph Cecrle. “The incredible support from top management and the enthusiasm of our workforce at the shop floor make this possible.”
According to Paul Birkeland, CEO of Global Strategic Energy, a support subcontractor with Honeywell hired to support the management system, the OC-ALC currently has designated three Significant Energy Uses and are working to add a fourth. The SEUs offer opportunities to focus on specific areas where the most energy savings can be achieved and where there is room for significant improvement.
“The whole idea is that over time, we can achieve more energy savings and add more SEUs for continued savings,” said Birkeland.
It comes down to being cost effective while keeping major programs on track within cost, schedule and performance parameters.
Current SEUs include the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group’s paint hangar in Bldg. 3225 and the strip hangar in Bldg. 3228. Bldgs. 200 and 210, where the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group tests small components, are also areas of focus.
The paint and strip hangars require certain temperatures, humidity and ventilation, which means there is a lot of energy consumption to heat air in the winter and cool air in the summer.
Lastly, the Commodities Maintenance Group buildings were consuming large amounts of energy with the work they do in taking apart systems, cleaning them, reassembling and testing them. When an air-driven accessory is tested, it has to be supplied with heated, compressed air and that requires a tremendous energy input and is energy intensive.
As part of the Energy Savings Performance Contract, Honeywell surveyed the OC-ALC and identified areas where energy savings could occur. One of the largest energy savings will be shutting down a central steam plant located in Bldg. 3001. Honeywell has already begun changing out light fixtures and adding more efficient electrical pumps as a way of improving energy efficiency. The OC-ALC is not expending any funds upfront. Over the 20 year term of the contract, Honeywell will be paid back through the money saved within the OC-ALC.
The ESPC contract for $243 million was the largest contract for facility and energy modernization in Air Force history, but with the $243 million initially invested in system upgrades, the savings will be spread out over 25 years.
Tinker is currently still in the three-and-a-half-year construction phase where the improvements are being made.
“ISO 50001 is part of how the OC-ALC will manage their program going forward,” said Birkeland. “Usually when an energy manager leaves an organization, the energy program fails because the ideas were those of one person. With ISO 50001 the energy savings will be permanent.”
Additionally, as part of the ISO certification, OC-ALC changed procurement of large, new equipment such that energy consumption should be considered.
“Usually equipment purchases are based on the purchase price of the equipment, but 90 percent of the lifetime cost of equipment is the energy it consumes, and only 10 percent is the actual purchase price,” said Birkeland. “The more efficient piece of equipment may cost more on the front end to purchase, but will save a lot of money over the next 20 years.”
Tinker’s influence on energy performance extends beyond the base. The Complexes at Tinker, Hill and Robins Air Force Bases use the same Depot Maintenance Manual. As part of the ISO 50001 effort, Cecrle, and Ken McKuen, ISO 50001 lead, proposed new wording to the Manual that would require that energy consumption be taken into account when purchasing new equipment at all three maintenance depots.
“Though it plays a big part, ISO is not just about saving energy but is also about engaging the people within the organization,” said Birkeland.
Anyone is welcome to make a suggestion on how to save energy and those suggestions are tracked and checked out.
“It’s the people who understand,” said Birkeland. “We hope to give them permission to suggest how we can do better because they are the eyes and ears of the organization.”
“Everyone can make a difference,” said Birkeland. Turning off lights when leaving the room, turning off equipment during breaks or at night before leaving help a lot. “I’m convinced that we could reduce the amount of energy we use by 30 percent if people just took a look at their processes with a critical eye.”