Tent technology saves resources

BEAR tent layout

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Tent technology saves resources

Staff Sgt. Kevin Taylor, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, structures flight, swings a sledge hammer here, Aug. 6, 2013. Taylor is hammering in stakes to secure a tent. He is working together with members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center testing new energy-efficient technologies to reduce the amount of energy for future operations. Taylor is deployed out of the 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Mich., Air National Guard unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Tent technology saves resources

Staff Sgt. Kevin Taylor, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, structures flight, uses a drill here, Aug. 6, 2013. Taylor is using the drill because the ground is too hard to hammer in stakes to secure a tent without predrilling a hole. He is working together with members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center testing new energy-efficient technologies to reduce the amount of energy for future operations. Taylor is deployed out of the 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Mich., Air National Guard unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Tent technology saves resources

Staff Sgt. Casey Nowicki, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, structures flight, fastens an insulation cover to the frame of a tent here, Aug. 6, 2013. Nowicki is fastening the insulation portion of the tent before putting the cover on it to help save energy. He is working together with members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center testing new energy-efficient technologies to reduce the amount of energy for future operations. Nowicki is deployed out of the 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Mich., Air National Guard unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Tent technology saves resources

(From left to right) Tech. Sgt. Quentin Greiner and Staff Sgt. Casey Nowicki, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, structures flight, work together to put up a tent here, Aug. 6, 2013. They are fastening the insulation lining of the tent before putting the cover on it. This lining is just one new technology being tested here. They are working together with members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center testing new energy-efficient technologies to reduce the amount of energy for future operations. Both members are deployed out of the 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Mich., Air National Guard unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Tent technology saves resources

Two tents with photovoltaic panels on the flys are awaiting final touches with sensors for testing here, Aug. 12, 2013. Since the tents already use flys as shade, researchers placed the photovoltaic panels on some of the flys to harness the sun's energy and actually generate energy which can be channeled back into the power grid. The panels can generate about a megawatt of power for a full base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Sarah Goral, a member of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, hangs wires for sensors here, Aug. 12, 2013. Sarah is putting these wires and sensors up to monitor the temperature and humidity in the tent during the testing phase of this project. This project is testing new energy-efficient technologies to reduce the amount of energy for future operations. Sarah is deployed out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Chris Church, a member of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, finds the right place to hang an energy saving light here, Aug. 12, 2013. Chris is using these lights to monitor the energy used during the testing phase of this project. This project is testing new energy-efficient technologies to reduce the amount of energy for future operations. Chris is deployed out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Tent technology saves resources

Tents being used in the research project illustrate the different technologies being used here Aug. 15, 2013. Some have photovoltaic panels to generate energy, others use special flys to shade the tents from the heat and a few demonstrate the use of solid doors and vestibules instead of zippered doors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)

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Tent technology saves resources

Published Aug. 22, 2013
By Master Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 386th Civil Engineer Squadron along with members of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center set up a Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) system to test energy-saving technologies in a harsh deployed environment. This multi-year project concept is to provide a more energy efficient expeditionary base and keep the troops more comfortable at the same time. This initiative envisioned bringing cooler temperatures in the tents with less power and fuel which in return will save the taxpayers money. The idea is also to provide more with less to help save the lives of our troops by limiting the amount of convoys bringing in equipment and fuel. Some of the new technologies being tested are photovoltaic flys, insulated liners and more efficient environmental control units.