How to do your part this Energy Action Month

October is Energy Action Month, and the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron has some important information about conserving energy not only this month, but all year long.

“Every October, the Air Force initiates Energy Action Month, which is our opportunity at the base level to not really take a break from our normal activities, but to just use this time to let the rest of the world know that we are working energy conservation and here are some simple things you can do to help,” said Griffith Turpin, supervisor of Energy Management and Utilities for

the 673d CES. “The big thing we can do as individuals is save electricity, we have direct control over it by hitting the light switch.”

Another place to save energy is in appliance reduction.

Consolidate refrigerator usage at work, stop using multiple coffee pots if one is enough, and consider the usage of space heaters.

“Work with your facility managers to get your thermostat in the lowest comfortable range you can handle,” Turpin said. “We have an executive order to reduce energy two and a half percent each year up to the year 2025, [so] every little bit helps.”

Look for the spaces around the work place that don’t need light or heat.

Storage rooms and empty offices are sources of wasted energy.

Consult with the facility manager about making changes to the thermostat.

“Typically when it gets cold people don’t want to walk into a cold building even though it’s empty, so they’ll leave the heat on so it’s nice and toasty warm when they walk in,” said Morgan Benson, resource efficiency manager with the 673d CES. “It’s a tremendous amount of waste.

“People think their little contribution isn’t going to make a difference, but when you add it up collectively with everyone else, it does work.”

For more tips and information on conserving energy, check out JBER Energy and 673d CES on Facebook for weekly updates.