NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Each year Air Force installations around the world observe Earth Day on April 22 by taking actions to support the Air Force's Earth Day theme of "Conserve Today - Secure Tomorrow."
This year, Air Force activities will focus on sustainability, referring to the capacity to continue the mission without compromise and operate into the future without decline - either in the mission, or the natural and manmade systems that support it.
Here are a few ways Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is doing its part to achieve conservation and sustainability:
- Energy conservation - Motion-activated occupancy sensors were installed in buildings to turn lights on/off automatically in 2013. This project is estimated to save NFARS approximately 15 percent annually on electricity costs/consumption. This amount equates to a reduction in CO2 emissions equivalent to 92 homes electricity use for one year or the burning of more than 700,000 pounds of coal.
- Waste diversion - NFARS exceeded the Air Force goal of 56 percent by diverting 98 percent of its construction and demolition debris in FY13. This was primarily due to the Apron replacement project in 2013 where 100 percent of the apron's concrete was recycled. More than 55 percent of the base's solid waste was diverted in FY13 which again exceeded the Air Force goal of 46 percent. Diverted items include paper, plastic, glass, metal, cardboard, scrap wood and e-waste.
- Improved water quality - NFARS plans to install an overflow parking lot for base lodging constructed of a "green" material such as porous pavement. This green infrastructure project will significantly reduce the amount and rate at which storm water is released to the base' s storm sewer system when compared to a typical asphalt/concrete parking lot.
- New construction - The new Flight Simulator facility will incorporate many sustainable features to qualify the facility as a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating. These features include day lighting and views, light pollution reduction, construction waste management, recycled content, use of low-emitting materials, high solar reflective roof, light occupancy sensors, porous pavement and rain gardens. The Fire Crash Rescue building, Indoor Firing Range and the Community Activities Center were also constructed to achieve the LEED Silver rating.
- Reduced environmental contamination - NFARS is working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to move forward with additional remedial actions at some sites on base to further reduce contamination levels in groundwater. One of the remedial actions proposed is an in place chemical injection technology that will stimulate the contaminant reduction process at a microbial level. While most of the reduction is expected to occur within one year of injection, the technology has proven to remain effective for 4-6 years. At some sites where soil contamination persists, conventional soil excavations are proposed as the most cost-effective solution to reduce contamination levels.
- Use of bio retention areas - Another way NFARS strives to reduce our environmental impact is by following the NYSDEC regulations on storm water quality and quantity treatment during construction. One example of this is the use of bio retention areas to address parking lot runoff. At the forefront of design, parking lots were intentionally graded toward these bio retention areas which consist of a layer of native plants and mulch at the surface followed by a thick layer of porous soil followed by an under drain. This bio retention system as a whole acts to reduce the amount of storm water discharged to nearby waterways through the uptake of water by plants and water retention in the mulch. The remaining storm water is then naturally filtered and retained in the thick layer of soil, then slowly released to the nearby waterway at a rate less than or equal to pre-construction conditions.
- At home recycling - More and more items are being accepted for recycling. Check with local city/town for current recycling information.
For more information on how to make Earth Day even more successful at work and at home visit these web sites:
AF Earth Day web page - http://www.afcec.af.mil/news/earthday2014/
On base recyclables at Modern Recycling - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46DXlzQ_V4A
At home household hazardous waste day - Erie County http://www2.erie.gov/environment/index.php?q=waste-management-and-recycling, Niagara County (http://www.rethinkyourwaste.com/hhw.html
At home prescription drop-off on April 26 http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/
How drugs impact our water quality http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/45083.html
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)