MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, California -- As part of an initiative to better the planet’s future, October is recognized as National Energy Action Month in the United States.
According to the Presidential Proclamation, “During Energy Action Month we rededicate ourselves to securing a more prosperous and energy-independent future.”
Although there is an entire department devoted to reducing the carbon footprint of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, all year round, Energy Action Month provides an opportunity to refresh station residents’ knowledge on energy conservation and the part they play in the overall mission of the Marine Corps.
“In the Marine Corps, we have the common understanding that energy conservation is a force multiplier, and that makes us better warfighters,” said Mick Wasco, installation energy manager for MCAS Miramar.
Miramar spends around $14 million per year on electricity so conserving as little as two percent of energy used can save over $100,000 a year, added Wasco.
“We’re not asking anybody not to do their mission or not to do their job,” said Michael McConnell, an energy conservation advisor for Booz Allen. “It’s essentially to keep fulfilling the duties that you have to do while being more aware of how much energy you use to do that.”
There are several things that Marines can do to conserve energy during the work day that will not affect their work performance to include: closing bay doors when using the thermostat, not letting vehicles idle, shutting down machinery or equipment when not being used, using natural light and turning the lights off when you leave the room, explained Wasco and McConnell.
MCAS Miramar employs multiple systems in order to conserve energy and resources naturally and more efficiently including using recycled water and utilizing solar panels in addition to the landfill for renewable energy.
The station is also currently working on a microgrid project that will be capable of making MCAS Miramar’s flight line operations completely self-sufficient in terms of energy.
“We will be able to power 100 percent of over 100 mission critical buildings with this project,” said Wasco. “So if we were to lose power in the event of an earthquake or something like that, we will be able to control our own fate and continue operations.”
The installation’s energy conservation team is showing great results in their projects by ensuring that no energy is going to waste. For example, in 2015, the team saved five million gallons of water by simply changing the settings on the irrigation system.
“We, at this office, do a lot of work around these projects,” said Wasco. “What we need from everybody on this base is to be cautious of what you use and identify energy and water that is being used for no reason.”
MCAS Miramar’s energy conservation team has the station at around 50 percent renewable energy and plans to be at around 75 percent by 2020.