A solar wall collects rays at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Two of these walls hang on the outside of the 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, and have saved base officials $15,000 in energy costs since November 2008 when they were built. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross

Air Force officials installed their first solar wall here in November 2008, and have saved the base $15,000 in energy bills so far.

Francis Sheridan, the Elmendorf Air Force Base resource efficiency manager, was responsible for brainstorming the idea to install solar walls on the west and east sides of the 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron as a way to save the Air Force money.

“It is a passive solar heating system, said Mr. Sheradin, explaining how the solar wall works. “It’s a preheat for our outside air. It’s a perforated piece of sheet metal that hangs outside in ideal situations.”

He said once the air is ventilated inside the building, it is already 10 degrees or more warmer than the outside temperature. This means less energy is being used to heat the air, which saves money.

Even though the solar wall is an efficient money saver, it is not all that new. The solar wall was developed after much research and several prototypes done by John Hollick, president of the Conserval Engineering Inc., located in Toronto.

“It actually works better on cold winter days when there’s snow on the ground,” Mr. Hollick said. “The snow will reflect up to 50 percent more sunlight. It is ideally suited for Northern latitudes.”

“More than 1,000 of these systems are out there. We have them in about 30 countries and most took place in the last six years,” Mr. Hollick said.

Mr. Hollick said the solar wall wasn’t initially a big hit when it was first invented because fuel cost was still reasonably low. However, since the high rise in fuel costs during the past decade, ways to conserve energy in some areas has become a top priority.

“The people who put them in seem to really like them. I think it’s the fact there’s no maintenance with it, Mr. Hollick said. It does provide a lot of energy on a sunny day it should heat the air between 30 to 40 degrees.”

As far as for its durability, Mr. Hollick said, “The solar panel itself should last as long as the building because it has no moving parts. It’s all metal construction.”

So far, about 10 of the solar wall structures have been installed at eight Air Force bases in the past six years and future plans for more are under way.

Air Force
by Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
3rd Wing Public Affairs

Capt. Lyndsey Goodman performs to the military and Alaskan crowd at the Alaska’s Operation Gratitude concert June 27 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The concert was a part of Alaska’s 50 years of statehood celebration. Captain Goodman is with the 317th Airlift Squadron and was a contestant on American Idol. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jonathan Steffen)

From January 2008-
C-17 pilot auditions for ‘American Idol’

A C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 317th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base recently lived out one of her dreams — to audition for “American Idol.”

Capt. Lyndsey Goodman, a Reserve pilot who has flown the half-million pound airlifter into combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, also sings at local nightclubs.

“I wanted to try out for ‘American Idol’ because I have been singing since I was a little girl, but I have been flying most of my adult life so I never really had the opportunity to go out and audition for something like this,” Captain Goodman said. “When I found out they were coming to Charleston, I thought I should give it a shot.”

The captain already has a career handling America’s premier airlifter, but her passion for singing gave her the chance to sing for America’s toughest, and most popular judges — Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

“Auditioning in front of Randy, Paula and Simon, I was probably more nervous than I have been in my entire life,” the captain said. “It was really hard to concentrate because of all the cameras. It was a lot tougher than any check ride I have ever had.”

Captain Goodman is one of only two military contestants featured on the show this season, according to “American Idol” producers. After the audition process, she was eliminated by Mr. Cowell, who said he liked her singing but jazz might not be the right format for the show.

“Not making it to L.A. was a little disappointing, but I will still be flying with the Air Force Reserve,” Captain Goodman said.

by Capt. Wayne Capps
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs