By Aref Arianta, DPW, Tower Barracks En-ergy Manager

October is National Energy Aware-ness Month — this national effort un-derscores how important energy is to America’s national prosperity, security, and environmental well-being. Wise energy attitudes, behaviors, and organ-izational decisions ensure results. Take time to review your daily routine to con-serve energy. Take action and join to-gether to save energy and money. Leaving lights on in unoccupied facili-ties is a large concern, especially in main-tenance 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 when-ever 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 non-essential computer equipment at the end of the day

Check your thermostatic valve on your heating radiators more fre-quently. 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 cloth-ing.

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.

USAG Bavaria “Go Green” “Go Green” “Go Green”

USAG Bavaria Newsletter “Go Green” Issue 6 Fall 2014

Page 1

Inside this issue:

Energy Awareness Month 1

Energey Awareness (cont’d) 2

Chestnuts 2

Idling 3

Nature trail 3

Storm Water Control 4

Nature in Settling Basins 4

EEENERGYNERGYNERGY AAAWARENESSWARENESSWARENESS MMMONTHONTHONTH

You as the member of this

military installation can

be one of our champions.

Practice energy conserva-

tion rules in your living

and working environment

and tell us about it.

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”.

Sweet Chestnut (top) versus Horse Chestnut (bottom)

By Aref Arianta, DPW, Tower Barracks Energy Manager

Keeping up with this year’s theme, the USAG Bavaria has launched several actions to in-crease awareness and provide solutions to conserve energy on the installations, including:

Photovoltaic panels on several buildings at Tower Barracks, Rose Barracks and Gar-misch .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.

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.

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).

DPW intensified the program for issuance of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).

Energy intensive facilities will continue to be closely monitored for energy conservation via new technologies or operational change.

The USAG heightened an energy conserva-tion awareness campaign through web based links, Earth Week exhibition, and media par-ticipation (Bavarian News and AFN radio/TV).

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.

The above efforts are sending a clear signal of energy reduction trends within our installa-tions. 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.

This is also attributed to our community’s conservation efforts and changed business practices. However, this does not mean we can lean back.

There is still much savings to be had.

Page 2

Newsletter Bavaria Military Community “Go Green” March 2013

USAG BUSAG BUSAG BAVARIAAVARIAAVARIA EEENERGYNERGYNERGY SSSAVINGAVINGAVING AAACTIONSCTIONSCTIONS

Newsletter USAG Bavaria “Go Green” Fall 2014

Page 2

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 Ger-many, 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. .

CCCHESTNUTSHESTNUTSHESTNUTS

“With the Garrison’s

$50 million

energy bill there is

still plenty room for

savings.”

By Elisabeth Prem, DPW, Environmental Division

In Germany, idling your car is prohibited by law! So turn off your engine if you are sta-tionary 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 con-sumption, idling the engines of parked vehi-cles is prohibited. The following guidelines ap-ply: During wintertime, do not warm up cars or de-ice windshields by running the engine while parked. By the way, driving with wind-shields not being de-iced is subject to a fine of up to 35 Euros. Do not leave cars running for cooling pur-poses during summertime. Idling of vehicles is only allowed if neces-sary for maintenance purposes (e.g. adjusting motors, working on the ignition system)

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

Page 3

Newsletter Bavaria Military Community “Go Green” March 2013

WWWINTERINTERINTER TTTIMEIMEIME ——— IIIDLINGDLINGDLING TTTIMEIMEIME???

Newsletter USAG Bavaria “Go Green” Fall 2014

Page 3

EEENJOYNJOYNJOY TTTHEHEHE FFFALLALLALL SSSEASONEASONEASON AAATTT TTTHEHEHE NNNATUREATUREATURE TTTRAILRAILRAIL

By Caecilia Meier, DPW, Environmental Division

The USAG Bavaria nature trail is located in the imme-diate 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.

Remember—idling your car

wastes fuel, pollutes the

environment and creates

irritating noise.

SSSTORMWATERTORMWATERTORMWATER CCCONTROLONTROLONTROL --- HHHOHENFELSOHENFELSOHENFELS

EEENDANGEREDNDANGEREDNDANGERED SSSPECIESPECIESPECIES INININ SSSETTLINGETTLINGETTLING BBBASINSASINSASINS

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 asso-ciated infrastructure were completed at this time.

By Pam Blicker Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM)

Settling basins are structures designed to caputre storm water. The runoff of storm-water 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 that drainage infra-structure will be silted in or over-loaded. Each basin works in conjunction with other basins and erosion control infra-structure. Settling basin dam features such as overflows and standpipes require periodic maintenance and/or upgrades so that the entire infra-

Page 4

Newsletter USAG Bavaria “Go Green” Fall 2014

By Reiner Büttner, DPW, Environmental Division

In addition to erosion control, settling ba-sins have a positive side effect for endan-gered 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 wa-ter bodies at HTA. The lack of sufficient biotopes drives water-bound species to these few wetland habitats, e.g. amphibians, dragonflies, water bugs, etc. Amongst them real rarities are found - the endangered yellow-bellied toad is one example. This so called pioneer species originally thrives in natural river flood-plains, where small temporary and vegeta-tion-free water bodies are created after every flood. In modern landscape, these

Josef Felser (contractor ), Pam Blicker (ITAM) and Dr. Albert Böhm

(Environmental Division). (from left)

natural river structures have almost disap-peared and the species was forced to re-treat 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 inade-quate for other amphibians. It turned out that the storm water reten-tion basins offer excellent opportunities for yellow-bellied toads. The basins provide enough water for spawning during the whole year, but the vegetation develop-ment in these ponds is very low. Only very few species come along with the lack of plants, so neither the tadpoles nor the adult toads are endangered by preda-tory amphibians or dragonfly larvae. Usually it takes only few weeks until a new basin is populated by yellow-bellied toads and other pioneer species Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata).

Locations of settling basins

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.