USAG Bavaria
“Go Green” ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH By Aref Arianta, DPW, Tower Barracks Energy Manager
USAG Bavaria Newsletter “Go Green” Issue 6 Fall 2014
Inside this issue: Energy Awareness Month
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Energey Awareness (cont’d)
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Chestnuts
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Idling
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Nature trail
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Storm Water Control
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Nature in Settling Basins
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You as the member of this military installation can be one of our champions. Practice energy conservation rules in your living and working environment and tell us about it.
October is National Energy Awareness Month — this national effort underscores how important energy is to America’s national prosperity, security, and environmental well-being. Wise energy attitudes, behaviors, and organizational decisions ensure results. Take time to review your daily routine to conserve energy. Take action and join together to save energy and money. Leaving lights on in unoccupied facilities is a large concern, especially in maintenance facilities and motor pools where the high intensity lighting is intended to provide work area illumination. Many of these areas have separate safety and desktop lightings. Turn off those large electricity consuming lights when not performing maintenance work. Another potential energy waste is leaving doors and windows open while the heat is on, essentially heating outside air. No one knows your activity better than you. If maintenance doors need to be left open then DPW can install a switch that will turn off the heat whenever the door is open. Another solution would be installing a PVC strip curtain.
There are other several common sense no -cost actions every socially responsible person can do to conserve energy. Doing a little, saves a lot, especially if you are making this a habit to your daily life style.
Turn off monitors if you expect to be gone for more than 10 minutes— computer monitors use 60 watts of power per hour. Turn off all nonessential computer equipment at the end of the day Check your thermostatic valve on your heating radiators more frequently. It is more efficient to set the heating valves throughout your work/ living space on medium setting than high for some and low or off for others. Run your TV, VCR, PC and printer equipment through a power strip with a switch. Close blinds and curtains at night. Dress warmly. The most energy and cost-efficient way to stay warm is to simply put on another layer of clothing. Ventilate your space by forced air ventilation, i.e. opening the windows for 3 to 5 minutes rather than keeping them tilted. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs or LEDs.
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Bavaria Military“Go Community Newsletter USAG Bavaria Green” “Go Green”
March 2013 Fall 2014
USAG BAVARIA ENERGY SAVING ACTIONS By Aref Arianta, DPW, Tower Barracks Energy Manager
Energy intensive facilities will continue to be closely monitored for energy conservation via new technologies or operational change.
Keeping up with this year’s theme, the USAG Bavaria has launched several actions to increase awareness and provide solutions to conserve energy on the installations, including:
The USAG heightened an energy conservation awareness campaign through web based links, Earth Week exhibition, and media participation (Bavarian News and AFN radio/TV).
Photovoltaic panels on several buildings at Tower Barracks, Rose Barracks and Garmisch .These projects will produce 350 MWH per year of solar electric power. The system is generating annual revenue of $120,000 that will offset our electrical bill. Additional projects are programmed to further install photovoltaic and solar thermal systems.
Our partnership with Host Nation Agencies and Utilities suppliers is at a high level. This partnership will add an additional level to our efforts on energy security and sustainability, and renewable energy.
Domestic hot water solar panels at energy intensive building such as the physical fitness center at Tower Barracks and the Dining Facility in Rose Barracks.
The above efforts are sending a clear signal of energy reduction trends within our installations. After a decade of constantly increasing costs, for the first time in the history of the USAG our energy consumption glide path is showing a downward trend from past years.
A reduced light intensity at the parking lots and along the Netzaberg road is enforced by switching off every other light. Old street lights were converted into Light Emitting Diodes (LED).
This is also attributed to our community’s conservation efforts and changed business practices. However, this does not mean we can lean back.
DPW intensified the program for issuance of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).
2014 Energy Awareness Month theme: “A Sustainable Energy
Future; Putting All the Pieces Together, encourages everyone to see how they fit into the big picture”.
“With the Garrison’s $50 million energy bill there is still plenty room for savings.”
There is still much savings to be had.
CHESTNUTS By Susanne Colyer, DPW, Environmental Division
Chestnuts are a nutritious and delicious fall and winter treat. They can be boiled, steamed, even roasted over an open fire. BUT, be careful! The chestnuts commonly found in parks and backyards in this part of Germany are not edible. They are called horse chestnuts and have a husk that is much smoother, with only a few warts. The sweet chestnut is the delicious, edible chestnut that most people remember from the holidays. An edible chestnut is easiest to spot if it is still in its husk, which is spiny and needle-sharp. Edible chestnuts always have a tassel or point on the nut. The toxic chestnut has no point and is smooth and roundish. Sweet chestnuts are found in forests or parks in warmer parts of Germany, such as the Rhine valley. If you find chestnuts, make sure to check twice or ask an expert before you make a decision to eat that chestnut. It's better to be safe than sorry. . Page 2
Sweet Chestnut (top) versus Horse Chestnut (bottom)
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Bavaria Military“Go Community Newsletter USAG Bavaria Green” “Go Green”
WINTER TIME — IDLING TIME? By Elisabeth Prem, DPW, Environmental Division
In Germany, idling your car is prohibited by law! So turn off your engine if you are stationary for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes fuel, particularly when scraping ice from windows as the engine is cold - use windshield covers to avoid having to scrape ice from the windshield and drive off without wasting fuel. Not only does this protect the environment but you also have better visibility of the road! To reduce air pollution and fuel consumption, idling the engines of parked vehicles is prohibited. The following guidelines apply: During wintertime, do not warm up cars or de-ice windshields by running the engine while parked. By the way, driving with windshields not being de-iced is subject to a fine of up to 35 Euros. Do not leave cars running for cooling purposes during summertime.
Reduce unnecessary and avoidable noise during vehicle use. The following guidance applies: Turn off engines while parked. Do not slam car doors. Do not unnecessarily drive back and forth within housing areas. Loud music from vehicle stereo systems within housing areas is prohibited Fuel Saving Tips Idling wastes fuel. Besides avoiding idling, here are some other tips for saving fuel. They help you to emit less greenhouse gases, save money and protect yourself and your family! Shift to a higher gear as soon as possible! Remove surplus weight from your car! Check the tire pressure regularly! Practice car sharing! Walk short distances
Idling of vehicles is only allowed if necessary for maintenance purposes (e.g. adjusting motors, working on the ignition system)
Remember—idling your car wastes fuel, pollutes the environment and creates irritating noise.
ENJOY THE FALL SEASON AT THE NATURE TRAIL By Caecilia Meier, DPW, Environmental Division The USAG Bavaria nature trail is located in the immediate vicinity of the Wild Boar Recreation Center near Dickhaeuter Lake. *) It will lead you through a typical forest of the local area and introduce you to many aspects of ecology and environmental protection. Boards along the trail present interesting facts about various topics like trees, butterflies, forestry, wildlife management, soil, and wetlands. Total walking distance is 2.5 kilometers (approx. 1.6 miles). Things to see in fall: Rosehips, acorns, European jay; many different mushrooms, etc. *)Exit Tower Barracks Grafenwoehr thru gate 9 and turn right. Page Page 3 3
March 2013 Fall 2014
Newsletter USAG Bavaria “Go Green”
Fall 2014
STORMWATER CONTROL - HOHENFELS By Pam Blicker Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM)
Settling basins are structures designed to caputre storm water. The runoff of stormwater is the major cause of erosion. Within HTA, settling basins are used to protect roads, trails and open maneuver land from being flooded and/or eroded. These erosion control structures also keep stormwater runoff from leaving the post, thus protecting nearby off-post villages and waterways. Furthermore, settling basins reduce the likelihood Locations of settling basins that drainage infrastructure will be silted in or overloaded. Each basin works in conjunction with other basins and erosion control infrastructure. Settling basin dam features such as overflows and standpipes require periodic maintenance and/or upgrades so that the entire infraJosef Felser (contractor ), Pam Blicker (ITAM) and Dr. Albert Böhm (Environmental Division). (from left)
structure system can work effectively. This project was funded by the Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) program at HTA and includes the installation of new standpipes and maintenance of the small stormwater retention areas on both sides of the culverts at two locations in the northwestern portion of HTA. Two locations In Area A, a new standpipe was installed and vegetation was removed at each end of the culvert so that small retention areas can be constructed. The same type of activity was completed at Area B, which is located approximately 0.3 km south of Area A. In addition, any necessary repairs to the associated infrastructure were completed at this time. Additional info: Soils at Hohenfels Training Area (HTA) are generally shallow and highly erosive. These characteristics make installation soils susceptible to impacts from repetitive training activities. Disturbance of vegetation and surface soil, especially on slopes, can lead to soil erosion.
ENDANGERED SPECIES IN SETTLING BASINS By Reiner Büttner, DPW, Environmental Division
In addition to erosion control, settling basins have a positive side effect for endangered species. Hohenfels Training Area’s soils are not able to keep surface water due to the geological setting (i.e. fissured limestone, also called “Karst”). Therefore, with just a few exceptions the retention basins are the only (semi-) permanent water bodies at HTA.
Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata).
natural river structures have almost disappeared and the species was forced to retreat to substitute biotopes. Quarries, sand pits, puddles or tractor ruts offer adequate spawning habitats. As a rule, these mostly artificial water bodies are without or with only little vegetation and therefore inadequate for other amphibians.
The lack of sufficient biotopes drives water-bound species to these few wetland habitats, e.g. amphibians, dragonflies, water bugs, etc.
It turned out that the storm water retention basins offer excellent opportunities for yellow-bellied toads. The basins provide enough water for spawning during the whole year, but the vegetation development in these ponds is very low.
Amongst them real rarities are found - the endangered yellow-bellied toad is one example. This so called pioneer species originally thrives in natural river floodplains, where small temporary and vegetation-free water bodies are created after every flood. In modern landscape, these
Only very few species come along with the lack of plants, so neither the tadpoles nor the adult toads are endangered by predatory amphibians or dragonfly larvae. Usually it takes only few weeks until a new basin is populated by yellow-bellied toads and other pioneer species Page 4