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PAFB: a sustainable future
Posted 3/18/2011 Updated 3/11/2011
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by Randy Hawke
21st Civil Engineer Squadron facilities excellence architect
3/18/2011 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Facilities Excellence Plan has helped to set standards for Peterson Air Force Base that comply with new Department of Defense Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and energy saving mandates.
In 2007, the FEP was updated to set sustainable standards for all military construction, operations and maintenance minor construction, and operations and maintenance repair projects. Sustainable standards set by U.S. Green Building Counsel LEED criteria are used as a baseline in the FEP design guidelines for the selection of design criteria and sustainable materials.
Design concepts include the use of pervious pavers and rain gardens, which help with storm water retention, facility orientation to maximize solar gain during winter months, and high windows for day lighting to reduce the light bill. They all enhance the working environment and the day-to-day quality of life for the 21st Space Wing work force.
Because the plan is designed to support sustainability, the FEP supported an Air Force vegetative roof and study. This included the installation of a vegetative roof, or green roof, system on 20,000 square feet of the 21st Space Wing headquarters building, and a one-year study to validate the savings and the advantages of vegetative roof systems. This information has been used to develop the Unified Facilities Criteria for vegetative roof systems and an Engineering Technical Letter for the Air Force.
Currently, the FEP is being used to help write a standard for the "triangle character area" of PAFB, the old BX and commissary area. By establishing this standard, it will help create a sustainable, holistic approach for the eventual development of this particular district. This will be the cornerstone for future sustainment and energy saving practices for Peterson AFB.
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