Air Force focuses on green bases this Earth Day Published April 22, 2016 By Staff Reports 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- While Earth Day only comes around once a year on April 22, the Air Force strives to do its part every day by building cleaner, greener bases where Airmen and their families train, live and work. In the last fiscal year alone, the enterprise managed 295 renewable energy projects at 97 sites. This has contributed to the service’s 21 percent reduction in energy use since 2003 and keeps it on track to achieve its goal of cutting energy use 37.5 percent by 2020. Toward this end, the Air Force has implemented a policy of only constructing new buildings and major renovation projects by the federal standards for High Performance and Sustainable Buildings. All new projects must also achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification. On Warren, there are several new facilities being planned and energy efficiency is being designed in. “F.E. Warren has completed a project that installed individual boilers in building replacing the central heat plant,” Kenneth Johnston, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager. He continued to explain that the base is collecting the heating data from the base buildings that use more energy than they should to design projects aimed at cutting the consumption. While energy conservation and supply are critical to the Air Force’s diverse missions, the service also prioritizes responsible water usage throughout its operations and construction projects. In the last fiscal year, the Air Force funded four water projects which are expected to save 25.3 million gallons of water annually. “At the end of [fiscal year] 2015, Warren completed a reseeding project that replaced high water use blue grass with native buffalo grass,” Johnston said. “This project is estimated to save 35 million gallons of water annually. This year should verify the savings.” While Air Force conservation measures such as these have helped build cleaner, greener installations, success depends on the actions taken by every Airman daily. “Little things like shutting off lights or powering down peripheral electronic equipment can add up significant savings,” Johnston said. For more information and tips on what every Airman can do to make a difference, visit the Air Force’s Earth Day page at http://www.afcec.af.mil/news/earthday