New lighting to save energy, money

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Members of the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron Assets Management office worked with contractors, March 24, to install energy efficient lighting in more than 25 aircraft hangars on base.

The new T5 high output fluorescent lighting is network controlled to harvest daylight and is projected to save 40 percent of energy compared to the substituted high intensity discharge lighting.

"This new lighting takes advantage of daylight so it shuts down some of the lamps when there is enough light. It is really an advanced system," said Gary Krivokapich, 49th CES Resource Efficiency manager.

Mr. Krivokapich added that the lighting upgrade will not only save energy, but will provide a higher spectrum of light in the hangars.

This project is one of many in the works as part of an initiative to reduce Holloman's energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015.

"On the ground right now, we have approximately $5 million in projects going on as part of the initiative," said Mr. Krivokapich.

A recently completed project, which is projected to save $324,000 per year in energy consumption costs, involved installing occupancy sensors in 87 buildings on base. These sensors will automatically turn off lights in buildings when they are not occupied.

Additionally, an office lighting upgrade was performed on 101 buildings on base is projected to save $166,000 per year.

More projects, to include retro commissioning, which will tune up air conditioning and heating systems and save up to $129,000 per year; and advanced meter reading, which will track the usage of and save up to 20 percent of energy use, are also in the works.

For more information on preserving energy to meet the 2015 goal, check out the Holloman Energy Conservation Tips factsheet.