Base civil engineers at Hill Air Force Base and the Defense Logistics Agency invited Energy Service Group, an energy service company, to perform a preliminary assessment of installation facilities Jan. 6 for an energy savings performance contract.

The preliminary assessment kickoff event allows ESG to identify potential energy conservation measures, or ECMs, and to estimate the time and cost of performing the required work.

The ESPC covers more than 50 buildings throughout the installation. ESG will aim to improve lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, steam distribution, combined heat and power, energy efficiency in an inflatable building, and several other potential ECMs.

“The kickoff was great,” said Air Force Civil Engineer Center ESPC Project Manager Robin Kitson. “Everyone was totally engaged and ESG really brought their A team. We found a lot of opportunities, especially in process energy.”

Process energy includes energy used during painting, building parts and other similar tasks. For example, the energy needed to ventilate a space while painting an aircraft would be considered process energy. Dip tanks have multiple improvement areas, including energy recovery, and water and heat conservation.

“Process energy accounts for 30 percent of Hill Air Force Base’s total energy use, so focusing ESPC efforts there makes sense,” said 2nd Lt. Mary Boyle, Hill AFB energy manager.

After the PA is completed and approved by engineers and contracting officials at Hill, AFCEC and DLA, ESG will perform an investment-grade audit.

The IGA is based on an in-depth look at installation facilities and will provide decision-makers with the information to proceed with the project.

Under the ESPC model, ESCOs compete to finance, design, construct and manage energy projects, and maintain the systems long-term. ESPCs range from 10 years to a maximum of 25 years, with the Air Force paying the ESCO back over the term of the contract from cost savings garnered by the energy efficiency improvements they make.