Pollution Prevention Expo greens up Edwards

  • Published
  • By Patti Kumazawa
  • Environmental Management
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Environmental Management hosted Edwards Pollution Prevention Expo on Sept. 24. 

The expo featured a day of workshops on greening the government in observance of Pollution Prevention Week. 

"The Air Force is the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S.," said Baha Zarah, from the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment. He said Edwards purchased 104,350 megawatt hours of renewable energy in 2007 alone, almost 10 percent of the renewable energy purchased by the Air Force last year. 

In addition to Air Force-level energy conservation efforts, the attendees learned about several green topics, including future water challenges in the Antelope Valley, making hydrogen from wastewater, specific energy conservation initiatives at Edwards and the requirement for the Air Force to buy "green." 

Other speakers ranged from Edwards professionals and off-base local officials to people from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the developing green industry. 

Tom Barnes from the Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency talked about the challenges coming up for water purveyors in the area. Mr. Barnes said restrictions on getting water from Northern California, the Los Angeles aqueduct and the Colorado River will cut the amount of external water available to the Antelope Valley down to 60,000 acre-feet per year. Currently, AVEK uses 110,000 acre-feet per year, which means more water will have to come from local wells that are already overused. He said planning is the key for the future. 

Richard Caulkins from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts carried on the discussion about water. He gave an overview of the recycled water system being developed in Lancaster, Palmdale and Rosamond. 

Jeff Cox from the company Fuel Cell Energy told attendees how biogas can be used in a fuel cell to create electricity and hydrogen for use in vehicles. He described the process as "from the toilet seat to the driver's seat." 

Fuel cells using biogas are in place throughout the country, including one installed five years ago that makes electricity at the Palmdale wastewater treatment plant. 

Biogas coupled with fuel cells can help make future hydrogen fuel stations economical and sustainable, Mr. Cox said . The cost for hydrogen in a hydrogen-powered car equates to about 75 cents for a gallon of gasoline in a regular car engine. 

Returning to Air Force energy conservation efforts, Scott Pogue of Sain Engineering discussed efforts at Edwards to incorporate energy-saving technologies and find common ways to conserve energy. Mr. Pogue said although Edwards' energy use has decreased 22 percent since 1995, the cost of that energy has increased 72 percent. 

"In the next three years, our costs will increase between 65 and 70 percent," he said. 

The 95 Civil Engineering and Transportation Directorate have worked with Southern California Edison to replace old lighting systems with more energy efficient lighting, said Mr. Pogue. The base is proposing to replace the cooling system at one base facility with an innovative new system called ice bears. This technology makes ice at night when the costs for both electricity and the temperature are lower. Then the ice is used the following day to help cool the facility. 

Civil Engineering is also looking at installing "cool roofs," roofing in lighter colors that reflect the sun's energy rather than darker colors that absorb heat. A cool roof can reduce the surface temperature of a roof by up to 100 degrees according to the California Energy Commission's Web site. 

"Edwards can save between five and 20 percent in energy just by having people look at how things are working," Mr. Pogue said. 

Capping the day of "green," Jeff Veselenak from the base Contracting office talked about the Green Procurement Program. Government rules and regulations require consideration of the environment in making purchasing decisions. 

Under the Green Procurement Program, the government purchases products and ervices that conserve natural resources and reduce impacts to the environment, Mr. Veselenak said . This ranges from recycled office paper to using alternative fuels in aircraft.