No-Heat, No-Cool period is approaching

  • Published
  • By the Energy Team
  • 49th Civil Engineer Squadron
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The No Heat, No Cool season is a base program held twice a year that can save the base up to five percent, or $300,000, on it's annual energy bills, and Holloman will be entering this season April 15, 2010.

Members of the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron will begin turning off heat to buildings as part of the base No-Heat, No-Cool season. During this period, an intensive preventative maintenance program will be performed.

"Through our recurring maintenance program, we will be able to service our equipment to prevent system failures," said Maj. Kristina Selstrom, the 49th CES Operations Flight commander. "We look forward to the change-over period between heating and cooling to accomplish the majority of our maintenance and ensure the quality of life for all personnel on Holloman."

On April 15, the plan will kick into action and continue until approximately May 15, 2010, weather permitting. Sometime after May 15, air conditioned buildings will switch to cooling.

"The base averages around $18,000 a day in utility bills per month," said Gary Krivokapich, 49th CES resource efficiency manager. "A large portion of Holloman's energy usage is related to heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Taking advantage of mild weather is an excellent opportunity to save valuable energy dollars. We can get an approximate 30 percent reduction during this period, which is vital to our success in meeting reduction goals of 30 percent by 2015.

"Energy conservation is everyone's responsibility," he said. "We must all contribute to meeting our reduction goals and be good stewards of our tax dollars and Earth's resources."

In addition to reducing how long things are left on, Holloman is installing more efficient equipment to help save energy. Holloman is scheduled to start a retro-commissioning (tuneup) of the air conditioning and heating of up to four buildings this year. The 49th CES is also scheduled to start $1.8 million in high-bay lighting retrofit projects on the largest buildings, and a $1 million project for lighting occupancy sensors for 170 buildings.

"The overall plan is to save energy for the base," said Ron Elswick, 49th CES heating, ventilating and air conditioning supervisor. "Dormitories and billeting are the main priority for switching to air conditioning, followed by training facilities, administrative facilities and the industrial facilities."

The facility managers are the first point of contact for any building and equipment problems.

"We understand it has been warming up significantly recently, but we ask Team Holloman to be patient during this transition period," said Col. Stephen DiFonzo, 49th Mission Support Group commander. "We encourage Airmen in poorly ventilated areas to open windows and use fans to help circulate the air."

Not all buildings will be affected by the No-Heat, No-Cool campaign. For more information on saving energy, call 575-572-5731 and ask for someone from the energy team.