After a site visit, information collected was analyzed against current utility usage. ECMs and water saving measures (WSMs) were identified and analyzed for cost of implementation, energy savings and paybacks. All of the information was presented in a single report by installation with a prioritization of what was recommended and estimated construction cost descriptions (using RS Means).
This work involved meticulous planning, continuous and rigorous quality control, and flexibility to accommodate and be non-disruptive to ongoing Air Force mission activity. Some challenges our teams overcame included the following:
- Compressed onsite schedules required close management of multiple assessment teams for visits to hundreds of buildings in the 2- to 3-week timeframe.
- Fast-paced schedules with many moving pieces required exceptional safety oversight. Our teams operated under detailed safety and hazard mitigation plans, and we ensured adequate personal protective equipment was used by all personnel.
- Work inside facilities took place during Air Force daytime working hours. We maintained flexibility to accommodate reschedules when Air Force mission requirements prohibited or limited access.
- One-time access to each installation required that data collection had to be complete and accurate before we left the installation. A daily automated quality check of collected data was instituted to allow for next day revisits to buildings, if required.
Farnsworth Group identified numerous ECMs that would result in substantial savings, with an average simple payback on investment of four years for the total program.
