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News | April 30, 2019

Hill AFB Energy Conservation

By Connie Braesch DLA Energy Public Affairs

Budgeting energy-efficient upgrades to save millions of dollars can require innovative thinking.  

In 2018, Defense Logistics Agency Energy helped Hill Air Force Base, Utah, utilize over $4 million through energy incentives and bill credits for a $91.1 million Energy Savings Performance Contract. 

Keith Carvalho, the DLA Energy contract specialist and the contracting officer post award, worked with the Hill AFB Energy Office to overcome the unique challenges associated with the ESPC, which is projected to save more than $3 million per year over the span of the 20-year contract.

“Keith was proactive with the schedule pushing Hill AFB and the contractor to adhere to set timelines of the contract,” said Hill AFB Energy Manager Nick King. “Typically utility incentives are not used towards the cost of an ESPC contract, but he helped us figure out a way to utilize utility savings rebates and incentives from Rocky Mountain Power as capital for the project.”

As Hill’s energy manager, King worked as the base lead, kept leadership informed, acted as the contracting officer representative and was the final approval authority for Hill AFB.

“After the degree of success seen not only in attaining these funds but also working with the contractor and DLA Energy to apply them to the ESPC, we intend to utilize utility rebates as a tool to cost share efforts with local utilities in the future,” King said.

The energy conservation measures executed through this contract span 262 buildings and 9.1 million square feet and include process improvements, lighting upgrades, steam distribution insulation, compressed air system upgrades, solar array installation and industrial ventilation air reduction. The measures are expected to reduce Hill AFB’s overall energy consumption by 9% and energy costs by 13% while increasing its distributed/renewable energy portfolio by 30%.

While Carvalho and King played a significant role, several other members of the interagency team were integral in ensuring the success of the ESPC.

Hill AFB Energy Technician/Outreach Coordinator Karen Bastian facilitated communication between multiple base organizations and five base civil engineering shops to ensure the base shops were involved and providing input throughout the process. Hill AFB Energy Engineer Brian Walsh provided subject matter expertise in engineering and energy management to develop the energy conservation measures.

“I have had a terrific experience working with Hill AFB as they are very engaged, dedicated and hardworking to move the project forward to full completion,” Carvalho said.

Because of its innovation, unique collaboration efforts and inclusion of both process and facility improvements, Hill AFB is in the running for a Department of Energy Federal Energy and Water Management Award.

“The Energy Office would highly recommend any federal entity implementing an energy contract to check into local utility rebates as an option to garner additional funding,” King said.