OCTOBER 7, 2022 – October is Energy Action Month, which presents an opportunity for Department of Defense employees, and their families, to make a conscious effort to reduce their overall energy consumption – both at home and work. This year’s theme is “EFFICIENT. RELIABLE. RESILIENT.”
“All of us play a part in reducing our energy and water footprint when we come into the office or workplace,” said Arnold Agustin, Energy Program Director for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic. “Any opportunity to save even one dollar, is a dollar that can go toward supporting the primary reason we come to work every day – protecting and defending our nation.”
Navy energy conservation and utilization falls into three distinct pillars: Efficiency, Reliability, and Resiliency.
- Efficiency helps us reduce our consumption and operating costs.
- Reliability helps to minimize power outages, so we can provide more reliable energy resources to our customers.
- Resiliency helps us resist power outages and recover quickly.
Energy management isn’t a new concept. The Department of the Navy has undertaken many initiatives to help improve energy efficiency, reduce overall energy usage, and harness alternative fuels and renewable energy sources. Below are a few SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) tips that you can do now to be a part of the solution:
- Report any unusual heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) activity, such as being too hot in winter or too cold in summer. This could mean that your HVAC is in need of service or a repair. Homeowners can also seal leaks around windows and doors with simple, inexpensive items like caulk, low-expanding window foam or even temporary seasonal window films, which can significantly reduce your energy bill.
- Clean or replace all air filters in your home regularly. Dirty filters make your HVAC system work harder and run longer than necessary.
- Set your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter – every degree of extra heating or cooling will increase your energy usage. Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature than normal will not cool your home faster. Added tip: Installing a programmable thermostat will help you automatically adjust the temperature according to your specific schedule.
- Choose energy-saving lighting. Replacing five of your home’s most frequently used lights with energy-efficient ENERGY STAR bulbs could save you up to $75 a year in energy costs. It’s also important to use natural lighting whenever possible. Lighting accounts for about 12% of a typical residential utility bill.
- Lower home and office blinds in summer to shade the room, which offers extra cooling.
- Keep blinds open in winter, if facing south or west, to allow sunlight to warm the air.
- Shut blinds in north or east facing windows in the winter to add an extra layer of window insulation.
- Turn off the lights after work, or in any unoccupied space during the day. Turn off overhead office lights and take advantage of task lighting, especially with reduced occupancy due to telework schedules.
- Make sure all computer equipment, office devices, and power strips are turned off at the end of the business day, or when they are not in use.
- Keep exterior doors and windows closed when the air conditioning or heat is on to minimize energy losses.
- If you’re buying a new fridge, freezer, television, washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher or air-conditioner, look for the Energy Rating Label – the more stars, the less energy the product will use. Using ENERGY STAR certified products throughout your home could save nearly $750 over the lifetime of the products.
- Don’t leave your mobile phone plugged in overnight. Note: It only takes a couple of hours to fully charge.
- Hot water is responsible for about 25% of the average household energy bill. Ways to reduce this include: waiting until there is a full load and washing them in cold water; only run the dishwasher when it’s full; and keep shower times short.
- Replace your windows. If your home has single-pane windows, consider replacing them with more energy-efficient windows, or adding solar shades or tinting film.
Focused efforts such as these may seem like small changes, but these efforts can have a large impact on the power grid. Reducing energy usage in our homes or offices also helps to lower power demand on the grid, which can boost electric system reliability.
Although the month’s campaign is designed to bring awareness to our energy usage in October, it’s important to look for ways to save energy all year long, and develop energy-efficient behaviors that will sustain us all for years to come.
NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, and as far west as Michigan, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.
For additional information about NAVFAC MIDLANT on social media, follow our activities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/navfacmidatlantic and on Instagram @navfacmidatlantic.
To learn more about NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic’s Energy Program, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/video/859421/am-team-navfac-meet-arnold-agustin-energy-program-director-navfac-midlant
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From Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs