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Greening Tinker: New lighting in industrial areas saves money, energy

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker's energy personnel are constantly on a quest to reduce energy usage while maintaining production rates. Most recently, they realized if they changed the lighting used on the industrial floors in Bldgs. 3001 and 9001, they could figuratively hit two birds with one stone. So far, they've changed the high bay and task lighting in two shop areas and have reduced electricity usage by approximately 40 percent in these areas, and will save at least $30,000.

"This change reduces the cost of business and reduces maintenance costs," said David Holt, 776th Maintenance Support Squadron electrical engineer. "And, it will increase productivity over time, too."

A couple of years ago, energy personnel began researching and experimenting with different kinds of lighting in Bldg. 9001. They wanted a light that lasted longer than traditional metal halide high bay lighting, powered up instantly, and produced a crisper, more natural light. They found light-emitting diode, or LED, luminaires did the trick.

76th Maintenance Support Group Industrial Branch personnel replaced 150 metal halide luminaires in the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group's Cable and Harness Shop with overhead high-bay LED fixtures and installed task lights for the work tables. The lights cost roughly $130,000 to install but are said to last four times longer than traditional metal halide and will use approximately 40 percent less electricity, 258 watts. Unlike standard metal halide fixtures found over the floor space, the LED lights take no time to heat up and produce light without producing a 60-Hertz hum sound. The former lights were 450 watts.

"The metal halide lights have a real yellow tint as compared to the LEDs, which have a more natural sunlight to them," said Phil Paxton, 76th MXSG industrial planner.

Pleased with the outcome, 450-watt lights were changed out in a future industrial shop area and two 76th CMXG areas of Bldg. 9001. In their place, 734 overhead high-bay LED lights were installed, including 44 equipped with motion sensors, further reducing energy consumption. The new fixtures each consume 281 watts and cost a total of $247,000 after rebates.

By changing out the lights, Tinker also became eligible for a rebate offer through OG&E, which subtracted $30,000 from the price of the contract, Mr. Paxton said.

"We all put in a lot of time and research in the front of this to make it all happen," Paxton said. "The research in the front end and bidding process is where we found the rebate from OG&E."

Officials said there are plans to relight the production floors in both industrial buildings.