October is Energy Awareness Month Published Oct. 5, 2010 By Ed Saleem Command Resource Efficiency Manager, HQ AFRC/A710 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Did you know that the Air Force is the largest consumer of energy in the Federal Government? Every year we spend about 1 billion dollars just for the energy it takes to run the facilities. If we meet our annual goal of saving 3% of that energy we will have saved 30 million dollars! It is up to every one of us to change our culture and reduce consumption to support the DOD and Presidential directives to increase our energy independence. The Energy Awareness Month theme is: "Build Green, Fly Blue: Leaner Installations, Cleaner Sources, Smarter Decisions!" We must all be leaner, cleaner and smarter with our energy usage. Here are 5 things we can all do now to help secure a clean energy future at work and at home: 1. Choose Energy Star Appliances and Energy Star rated office equipment. 2. Make the Switch to Compact Fluorescents. 3. Set Back Thermostats - This alone can save up to 25% of our heating and cooling costs. 4. Turn off Lights, computer monitors, printers when not in use. 5. Slay the Energy Vampire (flip the switch on the power strips and unplug unused wall chargers). It is our duty as Americans to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and to save energy in every way possible.
