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Geothermal at the Cadet Field House
Cost Savings: $64,000/ year
The Cadet Field House Geothermal System was implemented with goals of "the removal of fossil fuel combustion from heating and cooling processes" achieved by providing a "tempering loop for heat pumps as part of a hydronic system". Construction began in 2018 by drilling a geothermal bore field in close proximity to the east field house parking lot in order to take advantage of the base's soils and geology which are conducive to geothermal. The fieldhouse mechanical system was then upgraded to implement the new geothermal pipes to the old heating system. Overall the system consists of 19 miles of pipe located 500 feet below the parking lot so that water can be heated and cooled in a continuous loop. This sustainable feature only costs 10% more than replacing the entire heating infrastructure and is expected to have a return on investment within 10 years, along with reduced need for maintenance.
Source: Strategic Sustainability Plan, IDP, & AF Academy
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Polaris- Gold LEED Building
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) is a widely known green building rating system. This building uses less energy and water, utilizes renewable energy and fewer resources, creates less waste, and preserves land and habitat. Polaris has a gold certification level when graded by this system in 2017. It particularly scored really well in innovation, sustainability sites, and regional priority credits.
Source: US Green Building Council
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Light Sensors
The occupancy of each room in the Vandenberg Dorms is monitored using a sensor so that lights are turned off in the case of inactivity after a sufficiently long period of time, and turned on instantly when activity is detected again. The amount of energy saved by sensors is heavily dependent on the behavior and usage of the occupants. However, it significantly decreases energy consumption in the case that dorm occupants forget to turn off the lights when leaving.
Source: "Multi-User Low Intrusive Occupancy Detection", MDPI Journals
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CFC Renovations- Gold LEED Building
The Cadet Fitness Center is designed to achieve increased energy savings, use of lighting control systems, recycled buildings materials, and responsible management of construction waste. Since renovations, there has been a 50% reduction in potable landscape water use and a 20% reduction in baseline indoor water use.
Source: Green Building Information Gateway
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10th Medical Group- LEED Building
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Nitrogen Blanket at Heat Plant
Cost Savings: $269,000/ 6 months
The addition of a nitrogen blanket, rather than a steam blanket, at the USAFA heat plant allows the system to operate at a temperature 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than previously used. This reduces heat losses as hot water is pumped to various buildings. Ultimately, this has led to $269,000 in energy savings in the first six months by stabilizing the high hot water temperatures.
Source: USAFA Sustainability Strategic Plan
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Non-potable Irrigation
Cost Savings: $366,000/ 6 months
Approximately 360 acres of landscaped areas on USAFA are irrigated with treated wastewater, as well as groundwater supplied by 7 on-site non-potable wells. This water is stored in 3 non-potable reservoirs which primarily supply the athletic fields, Eisenhower Golf Course, road medians, cemetery, and Stillman parade field. Additionally, there are plans to increase the use of meters to track non-potable water usage in order to properly allocate the supply.
Source: USAFA Water Balance Report
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LED Lights
Cost Savings: $50,000/ year
The outside exterior street lighting on USAFA has been converted over to LED lighting in a partnership with Peterson Space Force Base. LED lights are overall sustainable, save energy, and are highly efficient. They use at least 75% less energy, and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. LED lights also improve road safety by providing clear visibility in dark areas and shadows. Additionally, LED lights result in a dramatic reduction in light pollution due to less “stray light” which helps to support dark skies at night.
Source: Energy Saver and 21 Feb. 2023 Interview with Kirk Weiss, Energy Manager USAFA 10CES
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Recycling Center
The recycling center, which is outside the base exchange in the Community Center, is open 24/7 with bins for recycling paper, plastic, metals, cardboard, and glass. Pickups are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In one year, this site recycled 288,540 pounds of cardboard, 539,210 pounds of paper, 55,370 pounds of aluminum, 125,810 pounds of plastic, and 243,900 pounds of glass. It also recycles scrap metal, concrete and asphalt, various hazardous wastes, used cooking oils, biosolids, toner cartridges, and government-owned electronics.
Source: US Air Force Academy
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Solar Array
Cost Savings: $600,000/ year
The 41-acre USAFA Solar Array was built in 2011 through a collaboration between Colorado Springs Utilities and USAFA. It consists of 18,888 solar panels which are capable of producing around 12% of the base's annual electric power, or 11,000 MWh per year. The array is capable of powering an average of 1,200 homes or providing 50% of USAFA's peak electric load. Overall, the implementation of this sustainable feature has resulted in approximately $600,000 in utility savings per year.
Source: Strategic Sustainability Plan & IDP