October is Energy Awareness Month

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LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  October is Energy Awareness month and this year's theme, A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together, encourages everyone to see how they fit into the big picture. For every dollar spent on energy, 15 cents is for water and sewer. Twenty five cents is for natural gas. Sixty cents out of every dollar spent on energy is for electricity. Little Rock AFB spends more than $8.5 million each year on electricity, gas, water and sewer for the base to operate. That comes to approximately $1,000 per person per year. No matter how large the challenge may appear, everyone is part of the solution. Every day, decisions are made that can either waste precious resources or conserve them. People can conserve energy by choices made on what to eat, what to wear and what to drive. When people put all the pieces together, they all have the means to shape the base's energy future and move the nation toward energy independence. People can switch off unnecessary lights and equipment, use efficient Energy Star products and compact fluorescent light bulbs, and drive fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles. It is also very important to pass on good habits to children as they watch adults' actions in regard to energy awareness and conservation. 

Heating and cooling tips:
Set the thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer. 

Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. 

Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. 

Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after use. When replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models. 

During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on the south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter the home and closed at night to reduce the chill people may feel from cold windows. Wear a sweater. 

During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain. 

Long-term savings tips:
Select energy-efficient products when buying new heating and cooling equipment. Contractors should be able to give people energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help them compare energy usage. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The national minimum is 78 percent AFUE, but there are Energy Star models on the market that exceed 90 percent AFUE. 

For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. Energy Star models are 14 SEER or more. 

People can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while awake and setting it lower while asleep or away from home. By turning the thermostat back 10 to15 degrees for eight hours, People can save about 5 to 15 percent a year on their heating bill--a savings of as much as 1 percent for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long. 

People can find many tools on the Department of Energy website at www.eere.energy.gov to help them develop a plan for work or at home to make a difference this year, starting in October, Energy Awareness Month.