Energy audit charts conservation plan Published June 9, 2010 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Saving energy is saving money, so the Air Force has embarked on an aggressive facility energy audit schedule. The $20 million program is the result of a new federal mandate which requires federal agencies to audit a minimum of 25 percent of its facilities each year over a four-year cycle. Final audit reports will include energy and water conservation opportunities, cost estimates and completed programming and building life cycle cost analysis documents. In April, 20 audits were awarded for 67.4 million square feet of energy-use facility space, including 4.5 million square feet at Keesler. May 17-28, a team of 13 energy specialists from Science Applications International Corp. came to Keesler in search of ways to reduce energy consumption. Team lead Scott Lawless said, "Energy conservation is critical to the future of our nation and our world. SAIC is proud to assist Keesler personnel as they strive to meet their energy goals." Simply defined, a facility energy audit is the process of gathering data to evaluate how a building uses energy and identifying opportunities to reduce consumption. "The auditors identify energy and water- saving opportunities on the bases," stated Bill Profitt, Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency engineer. "The potential payback from these audits is unlimited." Okel Castleberry, base energy manager, believes the audit will produce "energy-saving projects that will slash utility costs by identifying effective projects throughout the base." Base resource efficiency manager Adrian Barcomb is also excited to see facility energy audits underway. "The audits will enable engineers and facility managers assist leadership in meeting the federally mandated energy reduction intensity of 3 percent and water by 2 percent each year by 2015," Mr. Barcomb explained. He pointed out that the active participation of key base personnel, such as the energy manager, facility managers and the civil engineering operations shops, are critical to the success of these contracted audits. "Investment grade audits are the linchpin to identifying and programming viable energy and water savings opportunities to both meet mandates and reduce Keesler's future energy bills," Mr. Barcomb emphasized.