Little changes to Tinker thermostats save big money Published Oct. 4, 2012 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- Temperature set points work. Over the course of the summer, Bldg. 3001 and the facilities linked to substation No. 2 decreased its electrical consumption from last year by 7 percent; the base as a whole decreased by 8 percent. Much of that savings is directly related to setting the buildings' temperature to 76 degrees. In fiscal 2011, the former Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander proposed center strategic goals and breakthrough performance areas for the following five years. Although the center stood down, Tinker kept the challenging stretch goal to reduce electricity usage by 10 percent a year. The Air Force goal is 3 percent a year. "We didn't quite hit the stretch goal, but part of the way we were going to continue to make sure we were hitting the goals coming down from the Air Force is attack the 'low-hanging fruit,' which are the things we can do quickly and we don't need money to do them," said Britton Young, Tinker's Energy Team point-of-contact in the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate. "The answer was to adjust our set points. It really does work." Bldg. 3001 and the 22 facilities linked to substation No. 2 saved 2.8-million kilowatt hours and nearly $137,000. The base as a whole saved 10.8 million kilowatt hours and more than $750,000. As winter nears, Ms. Young said the base will again employ temperature set points, per Tinker Energy Instruction 90-1701 signed in October 2011. Administrative areas will be set to 68 degrees, hangars and warehouse spaces will be set to 60 degrees. Shop spaces should be set to 65 degrees. "We know it'll take some time for people to adapt, but people will," Ms. Young said. "Please resist doing things like bringing in fans and space heaters. Instead dress appropriately for the temperature you know it's going to be in your office." If the thermostat isn't holding the correct set point or to request more information, email energy@tinker.af.mil or call Rex Stanford, 72nd ABW/CE mechanical engineer, at 734-7222.