TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Hurlburt Field, Florida, is set to receive energy efficiency infrastructure improvements following the July 21, 2021 award of an Energy Saving Performance Contract by the Defense Logistics Agency-Energy.
The $22.6 million ESPC Task Order, awarded to Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc., is a collaborative effort between DLA-Energy, Hurlburt Field and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center — a primary subordinate unit of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center — to support Hurlburt’s energy assurance needs.
The project will reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs, supporting the Air Force’s goal to improve resilience, optimize demand and assure a vital energy supply for every mission. The ESPC includes six Energy Conservation Measure upgrades to 377 facilities and will save 65,286 million British thermal units of energy annually.
“The 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron personnel have put in a lot of effort to reach the final ESPC contract, and I’m extremely pleased with the outcome,” said Steve Loken, Hurlburt Field CE electrical engineer. “The installation of new equipment and the standardization of the lighting and direct digital control equipment will reduce maintenance and energy consumption. We appreciate the collaboration between DLA-Energy and AFCEC to get us to the finish line.”
The project scope includes an upgraded energy management control system, high-efficiency transformers, duct sealing, and interior, exterior and airfield apron LED lighting upgrades. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, the ESPC will also deliver a 240kW solar photovoltaic array with a 200kW/112 kWhr battery energy storage system for the base central mainframe facility, a critical node to Air Force Special Operations Command.
“This ESPC project stabilizes electrical power for this mission-critical facility,” said Mark Dent, ESPC project manager. “Providing power to the mainframe facility improves resiliency and protects vital AFSOC missions from interruption.”
Construction is set to begin this month and is expected to be complete by February 2023.
The ESPC program is a tool for installations to make smart energy decisions, optimize energy using 21st century technologies and support mission assurance through energy assurance. To date, AFCEC has collaborated with contracting groups to develop and award more than $1.4 billion in energy savings contracts since 2015. Installations interested in pursuing energy projects can visit the CAC-enabled web site for the Office of Energy Assurance at https://portal.afcec.hedc.af.mil/Storefront/SitePages/Home.aspx.