LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Langley is saving "green," by "going green," and in more ways than one.
Civil engineers are implementing new technologies to maximize energy efficiency and cut costs across base, thanks to funding from this year's federal economic stimulus package.
"The stimulus package has provided us with $6.6 million of energy related funding," said Don White, 1st Civil Engineer Squadron mechanical engineer. "This initiative leads to several interesting and exciting opportunities to cut our energy usage and costs."
In accordance with federal legislation introduced in 2005, civil engineers plan to reduce energy use three percent each year, culminating in a 30-percent reduction by 2015.
"We need to reduce our energy intensity, or the amount of energy used per square foot of building space," said Mr. White.
The projects include replacement of four hangar door seals, ventilation, system upgrades and occupancy sensor installations.
"The hangars are the not the newest things, and the air conditioning systems cannot be as effective if seals are not keeping air in," said 2nd Lt. Melissa Jumper, 1st CES SABER chief. "The harder those systems have to work, the more expensive they are to operate."
The $107,600 investment will cut operating costs $56,000 per year and ensure comfortable working conditions for aircraft maintainers.
Other buildings will have demand ventilation systems installed, which will adjust heat and air conditioning based upon the occupancy.
"When the building is less occupied, the building doesn't need as much fresh air, which can save energy costs for cooling and heating," said Mr. White.
In addition, new automated interface systems will reduce energy waste and take advantage of sunlight to supplement existing power sources. One of the legislative goals is to use renewable energy as often as possible, said Mr. White.
"It would be good if everyone turned the lights off when they left a building, but realistically that doesn't happen," said Mr. White. "Occupancy sensors can help us by cutting off lights when there's no activity in a room."
Day lighting sensors can detect natural light coming in and adjust interior lighting to capitalize on the use of daylight. "Ideally, the sensors measure the daylight and turn the lights down, allowing you to work at your desk using sunlight," Mr. White continued. "As conditions outside get darker, the lights will brighten accordingly."
The new cost-cutting initiatives also include automated climate control systems in 100 facilities on base.
"We're putting in automation systems in to make buildings operate smarter," said Mr. White. "At the end of the day, the temperature in a building will adjust accordingly to save energy, and will resume comfortable conditions by the start of the next business day."
Many of these initiatives are just a portion of the
Leadership Energy and Environmental Design, a program sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The local wetland habitat will also benefit from reduction of energy consumption and waste, said Lieutenant Jumper, and "environmental protection is just as important as economic efficiency."
For more information on CE energy efficiency initiatives, click
here.