Electric Shop Implements Energy Solutions and Builds Awareness Published Nov. 23, 2009 By Bill Turner 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The Fairchild electric shop is taking energy awareness to a new level, simultaneously serving multiple purposes with their lighting retrofit program: provide better lighting for the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron's customers, make that lighting easier to maintain so CES's customers are better served, reduce energy use and reduce hazardous waste generated. By simultaneously providing a variety of benefits to a diverse group of interests, synergy is obtained and teamwork is increased. To-date, the electric shop has installed 205 T5 fixtures, 96 T8 fixtures, 50 LED taxiway lights, and a variety of LED and induction lamps. These retrofits provide better lighting than mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, metal halide and T12 fluorescent lamps. In fact, this program began when the electric shop tried installing T5 lamps in a shop area, and everyone was greatly impressed with the increased quantity and quality of light compared to existing mercury vapor and high pressure sodium lamps. "Once they saw the new T5s, everybody wanted them" said Bob Davis, electric shop foreman. Replacing T12s with T5s or T8s usually cuts the number of fluorescent tubes used in half, reducing future maintenance requirements. The longer life of T5 lamps further reduces future maintenance. This makes believers of the craftsmen in the electric shop. These measures are expected to save over $5,000 per year in energy. They also result, in the long run, in a large percentage reduction in the amount of mercury to be reprocessed from lamps retired from service. The latest project is a huge undertaking and involves our 10+ acre hangar maintenance building 2050. Through incentives earned from Bonneville Power Administration, Fairchild will be able to obtain 83 T5 fluorescent light fixtures at no cost. The new fixtures provide significantly more light for our maintainers, and will save approximately $4,800 per year in energy. To-date, Hangar 2 has been retrofitted and we as soon as the other fixtures are delivered, the 92nd CES will prioritize their installation.