Grissom leads the way with LEDs

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ben Mota
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  More than a century after Thomas Edison patented the first commercial incandescent light bulb in 1879 Grissom is leading the way with a more efficient light technology.

The north central Indiana base became the first Air Force base to transition its aircraft mass parking area lights from a high pressure sodium light source to a cost-efficient light emitting diode, commonly known as LEDs, recently.

The idea for the project began after a tornado knocked down a light pole in Grissom's aircraft mass parking area and damaged three others during fall of 2013.

"In comparison, the old lights were just energy hogs and their technology was outdated." said Bryan Jaworski, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron civil engineer and project manager. "The storm was the perfect opportunity to upgrade the lighting."

The LEDs that are replacing high pressure sodium fixtures in the mass parking area use approximately 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer, said Michael Bowden, 434th CES electrical engineer. Based on 151 fixtures, the new LEDs will reduce Grissom's average annual operating costs by $100,000.

"The project has a payback period of 2.88 years; the Air Force requires a 10-year payback period for any energy project," explained Bowden. "This project clearly exceeds their requirements and has a return on investment of 35 percent."

An additional aspect that makes LED lights more efficient is that they are brighter.

"LEDs produce a brighter and whiter light," Bowden said. "This allows us to reduce the number of fixtures and still deliver the foot candles required for Maintenance and Security Forces to conduct their duties,"

In addition to their efficiency, LED light fixtures combined with the replacement light poles are more stable.

"We chose a light fixture design that reduced drag from wind; this design reduces stress on the light poles to prevent future damage," explained Jaworski. "The new light poles are made up of reinforced concrete and are stronger and sturdier than the old steel posts.

"During inclement weather you could see the old steel poles swaying back and forth, but combined with the support of the new concrete poles and the reduced wind drag from the new light fixtures we do not have that problem," Jaworski said.

LED lights will also save Grissom maintenance manpower, he said.

"The new light fixtures come with a 10-year warranty and last up to 25 times longer than high pressure sodium lights, so fewer man-hours will be spent changing bulbs," Jaworski concluded.

This project and other LED projects around base are already starting to pay for themselves, said Bowden.

"In the 3rd and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2014 we had a 12 percent energy reduction when compared to the average energy used in the 3rd and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2012 and 2013," Bowden said.  "And we are just starting to get warmed up with our LED projects; we have several more we are trying to program."

Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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