Tinker Unveils Energy Retrofit Plan

Officials at Tinker AFB, Okla., last week unveiled what stands to be the largest domestic energy retrofit project in the Air Force, according to a base release. The Energy Savings Performance Contract is a partnership between Tinker, the Energy Department, and Honeywell that is expected to reduce base water consumption by almost 20 million gallons annually, trim natural gas usage by about 30 percent, and lessen annual carbon dioxide emissions by 60 million pounds, states the Nov. 2 release. “This project will change the energy landscape on Tinker,” said Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing commander who oversees Tinker’s installations, during the project’s symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 30. He said ESPC would save the Air Force some $6.4 million the first year alone, and would conserve enough energy to power 12,424 “average” homes each year thereafter. Tinker has cut its energy consumption by 22 percent since 2003, but the base remains the largest energy consumer in the Air Force, states the release. “That’s a number one we don’t want to be,” said Bleymaier. (Tinker report by Mike W. Ray)