Push is on to save energy in Global Strike Command Published May 30, 2011 By Carla Pampe Air Force Global Strike Command BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Air Force Global Strike Command commander is looking to Airmen to find innovative ways to save energy in the air and on the ground. One focus of good ideas is at this week's Energy Management Steering Group meeting, the second such gathering since February. "We're looking at shrinking budgets and growing energy costs," said Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski. "We have to do everything we can to control what we spend on fuel and power. I'm really looking for our people to help us rein in our energy consumption." Global Strike Command is currently looking at ways to conserve power and fuel use in installation facilities and in flight, especially in the face of increasing energy costs. The energy management group is examining the command's energy use, ways to conserve energy in flying operations and opportunities to promote energy awareness. Ms. Michele Price, an energy manager with the command's logistics directorate, said that the Air Force is an energy-dependent organization that uses a lot of fuel and electricity in everything it does. "The ability to utilize energy as efficiently as possible and sustain reliable, low-cost energy sources is critical," she said. The command is looking to build on some innovative successes already earning significant savings. A project at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., for instance, earned the 2010 Federal Energy Management Program Award for energy efficiencies, renewable energy and water efficiency. The Minot initiative uses naturally occurring heat from below ground on base and at several of Minot's remote missile alert facilities instead of traditional heating sources, Ms. Price said. Heat pumped from the ground is more efficient and cheaper than buying electricity from commercial power companies, she said, saving the base up to 300 percent at some locations. "Minot's [initiatives] are recognized as a benchmark throughout the Air Force and across the federal government," she said. With aircraft fuel consumption, one quick change that can save money right away is to strictly monitor what is aboard an aircraft when it takes off, and to question whether it needs to be there, said Maj. Brian Gilpatrick, liaison officer with the command's Detachment 1 at Langley Air Force Base, Va. "We are currently exploring options to ensure aircraft aren't carrying anything that unnecessarily increases the weight or drag of the aircraft," he said. This can include removing things like internal and external munitions racks when they aren't necessary for a mission. Just like car drivers can save fuel by removing extra pounds of things tossed in a trunk, aircraft can also conserve fuel by carrying less gas, officials say, because fuel carried in fuel tanks weighs a lot. So the command is looking at things like the timing of scheduled air refueling on long-duration flights to better control the amount and weight of fuel on board at any given time. On the ground, energy audits are ongoing at command installations to identify areas for savings, and opportunities to use renewable sources of energy," Ms. Price said. "Identifying solutions to reduce the command's demand for energy and increasing supplies of renewable energy sources are an obligation for a headquarters, that is working to change the command's energy 'culture' - the attitude toward energy use and conservation, she said. Ms. Price said awareness is key to reaching this year's command energy goals. "We need to work together to ensure we save energy and water whenever we see the chance," she said. Interested in hearing more about Air Force Global Strike Command? Follow the commander on Twitter @AFGSC_CC or follow the command @afglobalstrike.