Florescent bulb exchange will save Vance $30,000 annually

Published Oct. 10, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Frank Casciotta
71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In an effort to become more energy efficient, Vance is replacing approximately 8,800 32-watt florescent lights with 28-watt lights.

The changing of the light bulbs, which began Aug. 29, is scheduled for completion by Nov. 2. All of the 32-watt light bulbs will be recycled.

"In 2010 Air Education and Training Command funded energy audits at all their bases," said Glenda Watkins, chief of design and energy manager for Civil Engineering at Vance. "An outside consultant team evaluated our base to look for energy conservation measures we could take to meet the criteria to receive funding."

Replacing the 32-watt bulbs with 28-watt bulbs is expected to save Vance about $30,000 in energy costs the first year, said Watkins. "Over the course of 10 years we will have saved more than $300,000 in energy cost, leaving more funding for mission essential projects," she said.

Funding cuts are forcing the Air Force to find ways to do more with less without affecting mission standards.

"In 2011 the Air Force spent $9 billion on fuel and energy," said Watkins. "Since the Air Force has no control over fuel cost we are trying to save on energy so we can fund missions instead of spending the money on air conditioning and things like that."