Kadena Exchange pursues energy saving initiatives

  • Published
  • By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp
  • Army & Air Force Exchange Service Pacific Region
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  With the goal of conserving energy, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service has joined with Kadena's 18th Wing to help the command with their "Power Nap" initiative to reduce energy usage and costs especially during the busy summer months.

Exchange associates are actively turning off every other light in their facility during hours of high usage and shutting outside lights off during daylight hours. They also ensure parking lot timers are set to shut off within 30 minutes after sunrise and activate no more than 30 minutes prior to sunset.

In addition to this, managers at Exchange facilities are ensuring their associates turn off lights, equipment and appliances when not in use such as coffee pots, turning off conference room lighting and shutting computers off instead of placing them in sleep mode.

"We're trying to support the Wing in their efforts to be more energy efficient as this is the right thing to do--to be good stewards of the environment and save energy," said Gregory Porter, assistant facility manager for the Exchange's Pacific Region. "When people in the housing areas see what we're doing at the Exchange, they can say 'well, if they're doing it at the Exchange, maybe we can do it at home.'"

According to Porter, the "Power Nap" initiative is in line with many of the things the Exchange is already currently pursuing under its environmental sustainability efforts which include a strategic plan that focuses on goals such as reducing energy consumption.

"Energy conservation measures become more important as environmental sustainability gains support with the military services," said Porter. "The Exchange must do its part to continually search for new opportunities to conserve energy usage in our facilities and we have the opportunity to partner with the services to help them obtain these goals."

Offices at the Kadena Exchange currently use motion sensor operated lights with automatic light cut off to conserve energy. Along with this, the Kadena Exchange has replaced most of its high intensity discharge lights with light emitting diode (LED) technology lighting.

"The LED lights are 75 percent more energy efficient and last longer," said Porter.

The Exchange has also procured Energy Star rated and high-efficiency rated equipment for use in Exchange operations such as at the Kadena Exchange's franchise restaurants where dry-line or "grill to order" cooking has replaced steam tables and batch broilers. The Exchange also added Energy Star-rated dishwashers and ice machines which conserve energy.
One of the ways the Kadena Exchange passes down energy efficiency to its customers is through its line of Energy-Star rated products including dehumidifiers, microwave ovens, mini refrigerators and LED televisions. In addition to those items, the Exchange also carries a large selection of energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs and a few LED light bulbs.

A 100-watt fluorescent light only uses 23-watts of electricity and will last about nine years when compared with the old-style 100-watt incandescent bulb that will only last two years.

"Anything we can do to help our customers keep the cost of electricity down on Okinawa is good for us and the environment," said Mike Einer, Kadena's main store manager. "If a product is energy efficient, our customers will usually opt for the energy efficient one over the non-energy efficient one."

Pablo Buckingham, inventory control associate for the Kadena Exchange, who oversees the acquisition of energy saving products here, echoed many of Einer's sentiments.

"It helps us take pride in the quality of merchandise we have knowing that we're offering the latest [products] and what's most friendly for our environment," said Buckingham. "We really take care of the military customer but offering energy saving products is an added benefit and it's something they can feel good about purchasing."

For Kadena customers looking for larger energy saving appliances on Okinawa like dishwashers, dryers, washing machines or freezers, they can find those Energy-Star rated products at the Camp Foster furniture store.

All large appliances or items like LED televisions that the Exchange sells come with an Energy Guide tag which shows on average how much it costs to operate the item yearly and the estimated yearly electrical use.

For more information on the Exchange's energy saving efforts as well as its other green initiatives go to www.shopmyexchange.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "sustainability" under company info to see the Exchange's vision, goals, strategic plan and efforts toward corporate social responsibility.