Eglin phases in new energy audit training

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Eglin Environmental Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin continues to build up its energy management efforts after approximately 70 facility managers attended energy audit training Jan. 28. 

The objective of the training was to prepare facility managers to conduct the simplest of three energy audits, Phase I, on the facilities they are responsible for, Scott Pogue, Eglin's resource efficiency manager, said. By conducting these energy audits, facility managers become more familiar with their facilities' energy usage and are able to identify major problem areas and opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades. 

This training is part of a continued, base-wide effort to make Eglin the Department of Defense's leader in energy conservation and stewardship--a high priority for Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander and Col. Dennis Yates, 96th Civil Engineer Group commander. 

Additionally, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, mandate that federal facilities improve their energy performance (reduce consumption and demand) as the United States moves toward greater energy independence and security. 

As part of the training, each facility manager who attended was given a binder that contains a checklist of various areas to check within their buildings. Using this checklist, facility managers and their alternatives are encouraged to conduct audits of their facilities on an annual basis and report their findings back to Alan Mardis, Eglin's energy program manager. 

Eventually, facility managers will also be able to monitor their facilities' energy usage as often as they like, once meter installation efforts are complete, Mr. Pogue said. He added that he and Mr. Mardis will show facility managers how to decipher what their energy bills are trying to tell them, which can be confusing at times. 

Colonel Yates recognized the challenges personnel who are assigned as a facility manager are facing, such as balancing those requirements with their primary duties and other additional duties. He ensured the facility managers in attendance knew that the 96th CEG is here to help. 

"See this (training) as an opportunity to have more control over your facilities," Colonel Yates said to the group. "I'm known as the top facility manager around here, so I know a lot about the challenges you are facing. I want to help as much as I can, but you are our first line of defense." 

Mr. Pogue emphasized that "changing the culture" of how the Eglin workforce views energy stewardship is a real key to Eglin reaching its goal of being a leader in energy stewardship. 

"We are going to start with you, and that's how we are going to have to do it, one by one," Mr. Pogue said to the group of facility managers. "Encourage the folks in your facilities to find ways to contribute." 

Mr. Pogue said the plan is to roll this training out to other facility managers over the next several months.