RAF Mildenhall hosts Energy Awareness Symposium

  • Published
  • By Staff. Sgt Tabitha Lee
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  United States Air Force Service members and civilian employees from several bases in the United Kingdom, members of the Defence Infrastructure Organization staff and local energy industrial experts attended the inaugural Energy Awareness Symposium here Oct. 17.

The symposium gave Service members the opportunity to collaborate with the DIO and industry leaders on new ways to meet Presidential Executive Orders that requires the Air Force to reduce energy consumption by three percent and water consumption by two percent, per year.

"Without germinating innovated ideas, we won't be unable to sustain our efforts to make the necessary continued reductions," Steve Perry, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager said.

During the symposium, each of the nine vendors was given 15 minutes to demonstrate their product lines and show their innovative solutions for energy and water conservation. Afterward, the audience was given the opportunity to talk with the vendors about the products.

"A big piece of the Air Force strategy to reduce energy and water consumption is through culture change," the energy manager said. "October is Energy Awareness Month, and the creative activities help to change people's behaviors and to think about the consequences of energy and water wastage."

During Energy Awareness Month, the 100th CES has organized activities around base and would like units to make energy use reduction pledges to raise awareness and save energy and water.

"The more money we save, the more we can spend on other critical things to support or enhance the mission," Perry said. "Most importantly, we are living in a world with precious limited resources and with an ever-increasing growth in population, it's just not sustainable."

Perry lauded the symposium's success, hoping it will help the base meet its saving objectives.

"I have received many positive comments from (participants) who all seem to have come away with fresh ideas and perspectives which I'm sure will help us towards meeting our future goals," he said.