Save natural resources during Energy Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Colton Walter
  • Computer Sciences Corporation Civil Engineering
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  October Energy Awareness Month addresses energy conservation and how it affects people's everyday lives. This year's theme, "Clean and Green ... For a Secure Energy Future," encourages individuals to consider how energy choices impact the nation's economic future and ecological outlook. 

Americans are increasingly aware of high energy costs and environmental quality issues each time they fill their gas tanks. Now it's time to learn about the available energy-efficient solutions and how to reduce energy use and costs. 

Saving energy reduces the nation's dependence on imported energy sources, extends the Earth's natural resources and reduces the effects of pollution on the environment. The Vance Air Force Base community is called upon annually to decrease energy consumption to meet Air Education and Training Command goals. For fiscal 2008, the Vance energy team was tasked to cut consumption 9 percent from fiscal 2003's annual use. In addition, AETC continually shrinks base utility funds to meet its utility goals. Last year, the annual utility funding was reduced by 25 percent, and this year it's possible people will see much of the same. 

Sacrifices made to meet building space temperature standards - 74 degrees in the summer and 70 degrees in the winter - helped Vance AFB meet its fiscal 2007 goals. This year as the requirements become tougher, the methods of saving will change in a different way. Team Vance members need to do their part; whether it's turning lights off in a workspace/home or turning off monitors, speakers and appliances when leaving work for the day - every little bit helps. 

Here are a few to save energy at home:
1. During winter months, keep thermostat settings at 72 degrees or below, and lower thermostats to 55 degrees when living areas are unoccupied for eight hours or longer. The setback feature on programmable thermostats can be used to automatically lower thermostat settings when leaving the house.
2. Kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans should be used sparingly. In one hour, these fans can exhaust a house full of warm air.
3. Experiment with cold water wash and rinse cycles. For nearly all clothes, the results will be as good as hot-water wash and warm rinse cycles. This can considerably decrease hot water heater energy consumption.
4. Minimize duration of showers and use less hot water for baths.
5. When buying new appliances, make sure they have earned the "Energy Star" rating. Energy Star-rated equipment meets strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 

These strategies can save money, extend the natural resource supply and save the environment for years to come. 

Energy conservation is a cooperative effort and something influencing everyone. So this month, the Vance AFB energy team urges people to take charge of their energy consumption, not only for themselves, but for the conservation of the community. Together, Team Vance can become "Clean and Green...For a Secure Energy Future."