Col. Michael Bob Starr |
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RESPONSE
Ralph, thanks for raising this question and giving me the opportunity to
respond. In order to promote responsible energy use, Dyess AFB has
implemented an energy policy that standardizes the use of heating
ventilation and air conditioning throughout the installation. The policy
dictates that the temperature in base facilities will be set at 68 degrees
from 1 December through 15 March, at 78 degrees from 15 May through 15
October, and the time frame in between will serve as the transitional no
heat and no cool period. These dates were selected based on historical
climate patterns, and are expected to provide the best compromise between
occupant comfort, energy conservation, and protection for Dyess
infrastructure against damage caused by freezing temperatures. Any time the
temperature gets unbearably high in your work space you're certainly allowed
to use portable fans to cool things down, but please be aware that excessive
use of fans will undermine our energy conservation goals. I also thank you
for inquiring about the length of time it is taking for the sinks in your
building to be repaired, because I'm sure there are others who are not aware
of changes that CE units AF-wide have been forced to make as a result of
declining resources. In the past, such simple items as a sink not draining
or a light-fixture not working could be repaired quickly, because the items
needed for repair were on-hand, and more man-hours were available.
Unfortunately, with recent budget cuts and personnel reductions, CE is no
longer able to provide the high-level of response that many individuals and
organizations have become accustomed to over the years. Now, CE must
prioritize work orders based on mission impact, which means deficiencies
that have direct-mission impacts will be accomplished before those that are
less mission-critical. That is why it is imperative for facility managers
to accurately describe building deficiencies and mission impacts when they
submit work orders to CE. I have spoken with my CE leadership team, and
they are aware of the need for repair in your building. I apologize for the
inconvenience, and I can assure you that your request will be accomplished
as soon as possible, as our civil engineers are working overtime and
weekends to meet mission needs. I hope this answers your questions, but if
you have any additional concerns, please let me know!
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