Energy conservation...it pays!

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Wallace
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  In 2012, members of the 366th Civil Engineering Squadron challenged MHAFB personnel with a "Throttle Back Program", asking each Gunfighter to do their part to help minimize the base's energy consumption.

After months of adhering to tips like lowering thermostats and turning off computer monitors, printers and lights when not in use, the 366th Fighter Wing was awarded two incentive checks, each worth more than $14,000 through Idaho Power's two energy conservation incentive programs.

The base's biggest contribution came during summer 2012, at a time where it's the most expensive to produce energy.

"From Idaho Power's perspective, we're a summer-peaking utility - meaning it's the most expensive to generate power from June 1 to Aug. 21," said Steve Floyd, major customer representative for Idaho Power. "Because of that we either have to put in new generation sources or we incentivize customers such as MHAFB to conserve energy. It's in the best interest of IP and our rate payers to conserve energy - our cheapest resource is conservation."

While summer has come and gone, those monitoring the base's energy consumption say the throttle back efforts continue to pay off.

"Right now we're pulling 5-7 megawatts of electricity," said Joseph Armstrong, 366th Civil Engineering base energy manager. "During the summer we use anywhere from 15-18 megawatts. If we lower our consumption during the summer when it's the highest, that actually affects our bill throughout the rest of the year - it adjusts the rates at which we are charged throughout the rest of the year. It can make a savings for us yearly. We don't see that in the form of a check coming back to us, we just see it in the costs of our monthly bills."

On a larger scale, the base's efforts directly align with the Department of Defense's energy conservation plan.

"If you think in terms of the broader picture the federal government has directed particularly any department areas that are part of the federal government to have aggressive, energy efficient goals and mandates to reduce its carbon footprint," said Floyd.

Continuing these practices will help Gunfighters in the long run.

"In essence when military family housing is privatized, the military will eventually be paying their own utility bills," Armstrong said. "It's kind of a full circle. This is a start in more than just one area. It will help us out throughout the year and it'll eventually apply to housing and help housing out."

For more ideas on how to conserve energy, visit www.idahopower.com/energyefficiency.