Energy conservation saves money, resources Published Oct. 19, 2006 By By Senior Airman Amanda Currier 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- October is Energy Awareness Month. The overall theme the U.S. Department of Energy has chosen for this year's conservation effort is "Energy independence depends on us; choose wisely; use wisely." The Air Force's motto for this year is "creating a culture where Airmen conserve energy." "Energy conservation is not a foreign concept," said Norm Zuercher, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron. "In their own homes, people are conscious to keep doors and windows closed and unnecessary lights turned off because they're the ones paying the bill. All we're asking is that people apply these same principles at work. People should not only turn off lights, fans, and computer monitors whenever they leave their own work areas, but they should also watch for energy waste in other areas as well. If you notice the lights on in a vacant room, turn them off! If you see a door left open, close it!" In addition, Team McConnell members should be on the lookout for energy-wasting practices, and try to find ways to eliminate them. "If you have energy-saving ideas, share them ... every penny saved through energy conservation is a penny we can spend on something else, like infrastructure improvements or quality of life enhancements for the base," Col. Donald J. Halpin, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander said. "While energy conservation is important any time, fiscal constraints this year make it all the more important. As we stand today, the command doesn't forecast to have enough money to pay our anticipated utility bills -- costs may be passed down to the wings. Any energy savings we enjoy will reduce our share of the bill." The most recent legislation on energy conservation, the 2005 Energy Policy Act, states all federal facilities are required to reduce their energy usage by 20 percent between 2003 and 2015. "Preliminary data for 2006 shows McConnell is on track to surpass this goal by achieving an 11.3 percent reduction compared to 2003." Mr. Zuercher said. "Although this is a great achievement for which Team McConnell should be commended, we need you to continue, and even expand, your efforts. Team McConnell spent a total of $4,674,468 on utilities in fiscal year 2006. With higher energy costs and a potentially colder winter, we could see this figure hit $5 million for 2007. Any energy we save through conservation efforts will result in a large cost savings." "We are doing an excellent job of conserving energy here, but I know we can do better," said Colonel Halpin. "Reducing energy usage takes a concerted effort from every Team McConnell member, and I encourage everyone to examine your respective work areas and homes in base housing for inefficient, energy-use practices - and find ways to eliminate them." The 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron offers these tips on how to conserve energy. · Switch off unnecessary lights, equipment and appliances. · Set computer monitors to automatically turn off after a few minutes of inactivity. · Purchase and use "Energy Star" or other energy-efficient products whenever possible. · Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. · Open window curtains on sunny days during winter to let the sun heat rooms. · Close curtains on sunny days during summer to keep rooms cool. · McConnell's policy is to keep thermostats at no less than 73 degrees during summer and no more than 68 degrees during the winter. · Whenever leaving a facility for the day set the thermostat to 85 degrees during summer and 55 degrees during winter. · Ensure air conditioner filters are changed once a month. · Keep refrigerator coils clean, and set the temperature between 37 and 42 degrees - no higher. Keep all foods, particularly liquids, covered in air-tight containers. Refrigerators/freezers run inefficiently when nearly empty, so use containers of water or ice to fill them up if necessary.