Team Mildenhall stays energy aware year round

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Light
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  This October marks the 23rd annual Energy Awareness Month, which is acknowledged across the U.S.

In September 1991, former President George H. W. Bush declared October as National Energy Awareness Month, encouraging the government and organizations to raise awareness on the importance of managing the nation's energy resources.

Although the month of October is designated for energy awareness, the Air Force stays diligent year-round with a campaign recognizing the role each Airman plays in helping achieve its energy goals.

This year's theme continues the theme from last year, "I am Air Force Energy."

"Even though October is the federal mandated month to acknowledge energy awareness, it doesn't start or end there," said Steve Perry, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron base energy manager from Hockwold, England. "Throughout the year, we look into many ways of saving energy. As the base energy manager, I have been working closely with commercial sectors in researching and developing new innovative systems to help save our resources such as the Dynamic Burner Management Unit."

The DMBU is installed between the thermostat and the burner valve. It alters the firing pattern of the boiler creating fewer but slightly longer burn periods. The overall effect is to reduce the amount of time the boiler is burning.

"The device has been installed in two separate trials on RAF Mildenhall and other MoD establishments," Perry said. "These units have shown a potential savings ranging from five to 26 percent. Since we typically spend $4 million on heating oil per year, there is a potential of saving up to $1 million a year."

Team Mildenhall members are encouraged by wing leadership to participate in finding new ways to save energy. Every quarter, individual efforts are recognized with the Energy Saver of the Quarter award.

Team Mildenhall members don't have to be a part of a big energy saving-project to be a part of the solution. It can be as simple as making sure the lights are off when leaving a room to completely turning off any electric device that is usually put into standby mode.

"It's important for folks not to think that what they do is pointless," Perry said. "Turning a light off when leaving a room might seem like a minor change in energy for one person but if everyone was to turn off a light it soon adds up to a major contribution."

For more information or additional tips to save energy and stay aware visit http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-111013-002.pdf.