Camp Kinser military family housing can now stay cool in the summer

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Sixteen new air conditioning chillers have been replaced in the Camp Kinser Towers that support military family housing,just in time to beat the summer heat. 

The new energy-efficient chillers will not only reduce energy consumption, but will do so withless energy. The towers previously required three of the older model chillers to provide adequate cooling for the tower residents, now only two of the newer models are needed to surpass the cooling abilities of the older three. 

"Upgrading these chillers is important," said Lt. Col. David Wilder, 718th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "We have been mandated to reduce our energy consumption by three percent per year, and the installation of these newer, energy-efficient chillers will help us in attaining that goal." 

The 718th Housing Maintenance Flight is responsible for maintenance and repairs for all military family housing island-wide, totaling over 8,300 units including all Navy, Marine, and Army housing on-island as well. 

According to Mr. David Sibole, the 718th Housing Maintenance Flight chief, by completing the work in-house, the 718th Housing Maintenance Flight along with the electrical, plumbing, structural, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning mechanics, saved $634,000 in contract replacement costs. 

"As with any equipment, replacement is necessary over a period of time," said Mr. Tim Soderlund, chief of Maintenance & Operation Element, 718th CES. "The average life expectancy of an air conditioning or chiller system is seven to ten years. The systems being replaced are over ten years old and are beyond economical repair."

The harsh salt-air environment on Okinawa negatively effects the chiller equipment.Therefore, in order to help prevent failure of the air conditioning systems m the condition of the equipment is monitored to ensure the units are replaced once their life-expectancy is met and no further repairs can be feasibly made.

"By installing the chiller systems now, before a major malfunction occurs," said Mr. Soderlund, "we can prevent a lapse in air conditioning service in the hot summer months. Constant planning, gauging, and re-planning is necessary to ensure we use sound business practices and are being fiscally responsible with our resources." 

Twenty-seven chillers will have been changed out once the scheduled work is completed.