Energy Awareness: Everyone’s responsibility

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Desiree Economides
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  As part of energy awareness month, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz challenge Airmen and their families to consider their energy use in everything they do.

At Yokota, the 374th Civil Engineering Squadron is commemorating the month by spreading the word on how to conserve energy.

"Energy awareness should be kept up all the time, not just in October," said Christopher Cook, base energy manager. "We should be constantly thinking about how we can save energy."

According to Cook, the utility bill spikes as the summer months come to an end and the transition from warm to cold months begin.

"Most of our utility bills come when the weather gets colder and the heaters are turned on," said Cook.

Some things people can do to help save energy include keeping windows closed, turning heaters on the minimum setting rather than maximum, turning off heaters and lights when you leave the house and unplugging electronics when they aren't in use.

Yokota residents can find more tips on how to save energy by utilizing an energy conservation checklist from the Federal Energy Management Program web site.

Energy conservation can be done both in the home and the workplace.

"Each person knows their own area better than someone in another office or at a headquarters," says Cook. "If someone sees a way to save energy, contact the energy management office and we will see how we can help you."

As Donley and Schwartz alluded to, it really comes down to everyone doing their part to consider how they use energy now, so everyone has more in the future.

"Energy does matter," said Cook. "Every dollar spent on a utility bill is a dollar spent that could have been used to keep a C-130 in the air. A dollar here, a dollar there doesn't sound like much, but it adds up across the entire Air Force and can amount to millions."

Individuals even have the potential to win $10,000 through the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program for their energy saving ideas. To learn more about this program, contact the energy management office energy.manager@yokota.af.mil or 225-SAVE.