Edwards goes from Air Force blue to enviromentally-friendly green Published Jan. 9, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Continuing the Air Force's efforts to be environmentally friendly, the 95th Civil Engineer and Transportation Directorate along with several base organizations, formed the Edwards energy team to raise awareness and begin an initial planning stage for energy-reduction projects. The Edwards energy team is made up of technical experts from various base operations that work to ensure the base meets energy conservation requirements without affecting mission requirements. "Civil Engineering is currently increasing public awareness by promoting the importance of energy conservation," said James Judkins, Civil Engineering director. Civil Engineering created Eddie Kilowatt, the energy-saving mascot whom advises the base community on utility reduction. "We have posters, handouts and display booths around the base informing Team Edwards of the importance of energy saving," said Enrique Torres, Civil Engineer base energy manager. "We want to make Edwards aware of what is happening on their base." Recently, Edwards worked with Southern California Edison to replace all light bulbs in base housing, free of charge to the resident. "This will save the base about $300,000 a year," Mr. Torres said. For 2008, the Civil Engineering team currently has more than five proposals underway for the base plan on energy conservation. "Various initiatives are starting up," Mr. Torres said. "We want Edwards to start thinking green." One project in the design phase is the Solar Energy Enhanced User Lease program, which allows the base to lease property here to private vendors for energy development. "Civil Engineering is currently in the planning stages for potential development of about 3,000 acres in the base's northwest corner of base for solar power under the EUL Program," Mr. Judkins said. Civil Engineering and base leadership recently visited the Sterling Energy Systems plant in Albuquerque, N.M., to observe how they operate their 150-kilowatt solar power plant, Mr. Torres said. Unlike other solar plants that require a lot of water to function, the Sterling technology only requires water for cleaning, which would work very well at Edwards seeing that the base has limited water resources, Mr. Torres said. Another project Civil Engineering is looking to incorporate is the Energy Capitalization Improvement program where military funds are used to develop energy conservation interests. "One initiative through ECIP is the satellite systems that monitor our irrigation on base," Mr. Judkins said. "When it rains, we can be sure that we don't have the sprinklers going on." Also in the planning phase is the Energy Saving Performance Contract. The ESPC allows Edwards to pay a certain amount a year to a contractor for utility improvements such as providing power upgrades and replacing lights and old air conditioning units. "So we are not paying more on utilities than we were before," Mr. Torres said. "Plus, we are getting upgrades throughout the base. We currently have an initial proposal under ESPC for $55 million for energy improvements." In September, Edwards was given $500,000 to start metering the natural gas and water around the base. Civil Engineering discovered through Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison the base was making unnecessary expenses. As all these projects start to fall into place, Edwards will see huge advantages, Mr. Torres said. With the help from the command, Edwards have a real future in going green, he added. "We are going green, and we are pushing very hard," he said. "We will be sending out information about projects as we get closer to them."