AFCEC conference 'energizes' MAJCOM representatives

  • Published
  • By Kevin Elliott
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Representatives from all Air Force major commands gathered at an energy conference here Aug. 5-7 to discuss the future of the service's energy program and showcase some of the latest energy conservation and production opportunities available across installations.

The conference, held by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center's Energy Directorate, was the first in-person gathering of major command energy representatives at AFCEC in two years.

"It was a great exchange," said David Bek, director of AFCEC's Energy Directorate. "It was beneficial to be able to look at each other, to speak and engage, and work through a number of topics. The conference was very successful."

"Meeting in-person provided many benefits", said Dan Gerdes, chief of the directorate's rates and renewables division.

"There was a tremendous amount of really good cross-feed at the conference," Gerdes added. "We got to see lots of new faces, get them up to speed and anchor them in what is going on."

One of the ongoing programs at the energy directorate that was highlighted is the Advanced Meter-Reading System, or AMRS, that allows bases to accurately monitor energy usage on a per-building basis. This accuracy enables base energy managers to better track energy consumption and target savings.

AMRS team lead Paul Carnley walked major command attendees through a Tyndall building where the technology is implemented to great effect.

"We were able to show what the system does, what the capabilities are and how it can be expanded in the future to standardize the operating platform across the Air Force," Carnley said. "This was one of the more productive conferences we've had."

In-person demonstrations of new technologies are important not only to show program effectiveness to stakeholders from around the Air Force, but also to bolster enthusiasm for the other opportunities AFCEC has to offer bases, Bek said.

"We want bases to be thinking, 'Where can we implement conservation and production measures to strengthen our ability to meet our mission and do it in a cost-effective manner?'" Bek said. "AFCEC is in a position to help the installations achieve those energy conservation opportunities."

Helping bases accomplish their missions through energy innovation was a consistent theme of the conference. Decisions to pursue energy projects are made at the base level, and conference leaders emphasized to base energy managers that AFCEC has all the tools to help.

"People (at the bases) are very busy and they are asking, 'Why would I want to do this?'" Gerdes said. "By being at the conference, giving and getting personal feedback and having their questions answered, MAJCOM representatives ensure Air Force energy programs are a good deal for our installations and worth the investment of time and effort."

"We want to make sure the bases understand that energy conservation and production are very important pieces of their overall strategy," Bek added. "The conference was instrumental in gaining an understanding of the current way the center and the MAJCOMs interface and encourage base energy conservation activity."