Save environment, money with natural gas energy conservation

  • Published
  • By Reuben Thonerfeldt
  • 19th Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager
In fiscal year 2009 the base used 224 billion cubic feet of natural gas, costing slightly more than $1 million. The question is, where did it get used? 

The base uses natural gas to heat air and water. People can pretty well appreciate not freezing in the winter, but sometimes they don't consider the cost of warm air escaping through doors propped open, inefficient windows or doorways not protected with weather stripping. These air leaks force higher gas consumption. 

People appreciate hot showers, but sometimes forget that using a hot shower for a sauna means that somewhere a boiler is working overtime burning gas to heat the water tank at the other end of the shower head. According to the Department of Energy, the average daily shower uses 20 gallons of water heated up to 105 degrees or more, which adds up to just about three million cubic feet of gas per person per year. Increase the time and temperature to turn the shower into a relaxing sauna and it can easily exceed 
10 million cubic feet. 

Even during a hot month like August, the base managed to burn $33,000 worth of gas; but that seems like peanuts compared to last January, when the base burned a quarter of a million dollars worth. During winter months, Airmen can make an impact on these high costs by lowering the thermostats. 

Try dropping the thermostat just one or two degrees and maybe, just maybe, the base can cut down on its fuel bill and stop sending energy dollars up in smoke.