Photo By Cpl. Brianna Christensen | The majority of energy used in military housing is used to run air conditioning...... read more read more
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CAMP BUTLER, Japan - “Turn off the television and shut off the lights when you leave the room! You will understand when you are the one paying electricity bills!” Most people hear this as a child, but they do not realize how much this advice could actually save them in the long run.
The average household electric bill on Camp Butler ranges from $360 to $600 per month. With a 25 percent rise in fuel prices in the past year, it is important to begin saving energy both at home and at work, said Gary D. Exon, senior resource efficiency manager for Energy Engineering and Consulting Services.
“It is important for people to remain constantly aware of their energy use and speak up if they have ideas on ways to save,” said Sundae Knight, a resource efficiency manager with the 718th Civil Engineering Squadron, Kadena Air Base. “Reducing energy not only helps meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as well as other policies, but it helps increase national security by promoting domestic and renewable energy.”
The EISA aims to increase U.S. energy security, develop renewable fuel production and improve vehicle fuel economy by requiring federal agencies to reduce energy intensity by three percent per year or 30 percent by fiscal year 2015, according to Knight.
There are a number of small tasks people can do to reduce the amount of energy they use daily.
“The cost of electricity on Okinawa is double the amount in the United States,” said Exon. “Residents on Okinawa are paying 20 cents per kilowatt-hour compared to the 10 cents U.S. residents pay.”
Air conditioning accounts for 68 percent of the electricity used in military family housing on Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, according to Exon.
“Good ways to reduce the use of air conditioning is to keep windows and doors closed while using the air conditioning, set the thermostat at the warmest comfortable setting, 78 degrees Fahrenheit if possible, and turn the thermostat up at night or when you are away from your home,” said Exon.
The second biggest contributor to energy use is water heating. Reducing thermostat settings and taking shorter showers can help reduce this, but the most important thing to remember is to check for leaking faucets, said Exon.
Another contributing factor to remember is energy is used to run refrigerators, cooking equipment and lighting systems.
Making improvements to your lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills. An average U.S. household dedicates 11 percent of its energy budget to lighting. The use of new technologies, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, could reduce energy use by 50 to 75 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
The department also encourages selecting energy-efficient computers and printers, which can result in enormous savings.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2012 19:11 |
| Story ID: | 83973 |
| Location: | CAMP BUTLER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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