Hanscom prepares for Energy Awareness Month Published Oct. 21, 2010 Civil Engineering HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Summer has come to a close and more tolerable temperatures are here. The good news about cooler temperatures is utility bills are likely to go down. But for those that think they pay a lot for energy, imagine paying Hanscom Air Force Base's bill of nearly one million dollars each month. Every October since 1991, the Department of Energy has held energy awareness month to kick off its annual energy awareness campaign, promoting efficient uses of energy. This year the Air Force is focusing on motivating and enabling Airmen and air base workers to make informed decisions about energy use. The Air Force theme is 'A New Culture: Energy as an Operations Enabler.' The federal government is the largest consumer of energy in the U.S., and the Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy within the federal government. The Air Force is the largest consumer of energy within the DOD, so the Air Force has the most potential for savings -- not only in the area of aviation fuel, but also in facility energy conservation. Just like every other base in the Air Force, Hanscom's goal is to reduce energy consumption by three percent a year. To date Hanscom has met energy reduction goals through improvements to the central plant operations. Now, more attention is being directed to the buildings on the base, with their aging HVAC systems, older lighting and leaky windows. Numerous projects are being planned that will reduce energy consumption while also improving the comfort of the workforce. In order to continue to meet goals, base personnel must help change the culture. The following are some tips to make a difference: Lighting · Turn off interior lights at the end of the work day or when they are not needed. · Report any exterior lighting left on during daylight hours. · Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Appliances and Equipment · Turn off computer monitors, printers, scanners and other office equipment at the end of the work day. Desktop computers connected to the network must remain on for security updates. · Minimize use of personal appliances -- such as coffee makers, refrigerators and microwaves -- and consolidated them to break rooms only. · Purchase only Energy Star rated products. Refer to the Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov for a list of qualified products.