GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- This north central Indiana base became the first Air Force base to transition
its aircraft mass parking area lights from a high pressure sodium light source
to a cost-efficient light emitting diode, commonly known as LEDs.
The
idea for the project began after a tornado knocked down one of the light poles
in Grissom's aircraft mass parking area and damaged three others during the fall
of 2013.
"In comparison, the old lights were just energy hogs and their
technology was outdated." said Bryan Jaworski, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron
civil engineer and project manager. "The storm was the perfect opportunity to
upgrade the lighting."
The LEDs that are replacing the incandescent
lights in the mass parking area use approximately 75 percent less energy and
last 25 times longer, said Michael Bowden, 434th CES electrical engineer. Based
on 151 fixtures, the new LEDs will reduce Grissom's average annual operating
costs by $100,000.
"The project has a payback period of 2.88 years; the
Air Force requires a 10-year payback period for any energy project," explained
Bowden. "This project clearly exceeds their requirements and has a return on
investment of 35 percent."
An additional aspect that makes the new lights
more efficient is that they are brighter.
"LEDs produce a brighter and
whiter light," Bowden said. "This allows us to reduce the number of fixtures and
still deliver the foot candles required for Maintenance and Security Forces to
conduct their duties,"
In addition to their efficiency, the LED light
fixtures combined with the replacement light poles are more stable.
"We
chose a light fixture design that reduced drag from wind; this design reduces
stress on the light poles to prevent future damage," explained Jaworski. "The
new light poles are made up of reinforced concrete and are stronger and sturdier
than the old steel posts.
"During inclement weather you could see the old
steel poles swaying back and forth, but combined with the support of the new
concrete poles and the reduced wind drag from the new light fixtures we do not
have that problem," Jaworski said.
The LED lights will also save Grissom
maintenance manpower, he said.
"The new light fixtures come with a
10-year warranty and last up to 25 times longer than high pressure sodium
lights, so fewer man-hours will be spent changing bulbs," Jaworski
concluded.
This project and other LED projects around the base are
already starting to pay for themselves, said Bowden.
"In the 3rd and 4th
quarters of fiscal year 2014 we had a 12 percent energy reduction when compared
to the average energy used in the 3rd and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2012 and
2013," Bowden said. "And we are just starting to get warmed up with our LED
projects; we have several more we are trying to program."
Grissom is home
to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R
Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as
well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy
from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission
and U.S. strategic objectives.
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)