Air Force leaders have approved dozens of suggestions from airmen for saving money. The ideas cover a wide range of areas and savings — to date saving the Air Force $76.6 million, said spokeswoman Capt. Erika Yepsen.
Here are the Air Force's top five approved ideas:
1. Dynamic burner management unit installation at RAF Mildenhall, England
RAF Mildenhall has numerous boilers of various different ages and sizes located throughout the base. The boilers fire and cool in cycles throughout each day to maintain desired temperature. An optimization unit extends the cooling period and decreases the firing period responding to the buildings' demand rather than sensing boiler temperature. The local trial has shown consistent savings averaging 7 percent.
Anticipated savings: $230K
2. Outdoor pool covers at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
The base pool holds 350,000 gallons of water and is heated to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. In May and most of June, the night time temperatures reach into the 30s. With this outdoor pool having no cover to keep the heat in and the evaporation down, the Air Force spends thousands of dollars a year in energy alone. South Dakota is also a windy state which intensifies the heat loss from the top of the pool.
Anticipated savings: $40K
3. Squadron Officer School training reports at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
Using each student's homestation unit, printing, wet signing and physically mailing each form to the Air Force Personnel Center requires 60 days. By using the Student Squadron as the organization, batch-digital signing and emailing each form would first save over 5,000 sheets of paper and toner. Two-thirds time would be saved (~5 to 6 weeks) because the quality review process would be much quicker and forms could be signed and mailed electronically.
Anticipated savings: $300/year
4. Baggage conveyor control box cable tie down at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
The Tug Technologies Corporation Mobile Belt Loader Model 660 Baggage Conveyor has a control box coiled cable wire. When traveling, the cable is out of the view of the operator, and can be damaged or run over, also harming the control box. This causes vehicles to be out of commission while awaiting replacement parts for an average of two months. Securing the cable to prevent it from falling in front of the vehicle can be permanently made using available parts within 15 minutes.
Anticipated savings: $30K/year
5. "Go Green" initiative for surgical equipment and supplies at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
Air Force medical facilities partnered with FDA approved companies that can refurbish unused/expired surgical equipment and supplies at significant savings. The program saves money while providing surgeons with the most up-to-date medical/surgical technology. Additionally, the program has expanded to recycling unused surgical equipment, saving additional disposal costs. To date, the initiative has been implemented at eight of 11 surgical facilities.
Savings: $348,000 as of July 2014
FIVE COMMONLY REJECTED
These ideas are commonly submitted and have been, and will continue to be, rejected, Yepsen said.
The five most common:
1. Overseas housing allowance
Modify the overseas housing allowance system to allow the government to recoup the housing allowance not utilized by the member. This idea can't be implemented because overseas housing allowance is governed by policy external to the Air Force.
2. Temporary duty air travel
Allow members to book travel at fares lower than the government contracted rate. This idea can't be implemented because temporary duty air travel is governed by policy external to the Air Force.
3. Commissary privileges
Open the commissary to civilians and contractors who work on base. This idea can't be implemented because commissary privileges are governed by policy external to the Air Force.
4. Terminate Tops in Blue
The cost of the Tops in Blue program is 80 percent covered by nonappropriated funds, with a significant portion coming from commercial sponsorship dollars. After each Tops in Blue show, base and wing commanders provide feedback; these surveys indicate that 96 percent of commanders feel that Tops in Blue is an excellent value to their Airmen and to the Air Force. Additionally, MAJCOM commanders in 2011 overwhelmingly expressed the need for Tops in Blue. Based on this feedback, the service believes the program brings outstanding value and is an excellent tool for morale-building, community relations and recruiting.
5. Stop fallout money
Modify end of year spending habits to limit wasteful spending. The end of year closeout process is a deliberate process that carefully executes prioritized Air Force needs.
