Yokota begins solar panel installation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Washburn
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  To help reduce the amount of money used toward energy costs, Yokota has begun to install solar panels to houses around the base.

A total of 19 buildings as well as houses on the main base, east and west sides are slated to get the solar panels.

"The main advantage of solar panels is that they reduce the load on the power grid for the base," said Roland Nishimura, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of Japan facilities improvement. "Each panel produces roughly three kilowatts of electricity that's returned to Yokota's power grid."

Those three kilowatts of power can add up.

"The weather and the different seasons will come into play, but these measures will roughly save the base $87,000 per year," said Michael Haka, 374 CES energy manager.

Along with the solar panels, new windows will be installed as well.

"Low-E glass is being installed to help with insulation and heat reflection," Nishimura said. "It prevents heat from entering the building and escaping. It will help reduce the cost of heating and air conditioning."