Change a Light…Change the World

  • Published
  • By Gerald Johnson
  • 341st Civil Engineer Squadron Resource Efficiency Manager
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  "Change a Light ... Change the World" is December's energy conservation slogan for the U.S. Air Force. Given the recent improvements made in lighting efficiency, it is literally true.

As we have now entered the holiday season, many people decorate their houses to enhance the festivity of the season. A memorandum from the 341st Missile Wing on Energy Consumption Reduction Policy for Military Housing issued May 21 recommends for exterior holiday lighting:

1) No more than 300 linear feet of holiday lighting on any dwelling; and

2) Only operate holiday lights from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2 and only from 6 to 9 p.m.

A safer, more efficient alternative to the standard incandescent lamp is to use LED holiday lights. They use as little as 10 percent of the energy used by incandescent lights. In addition, they last many times longer and are safer since they produce less heat than incandescent lights. For an example, LED holiday lights were used for decorating the base tree this year. Also, look for the EnergyStar® label to ensure you purchase these cost-saving lights.

For all of your other lighting needs, replacing an incandescent lamp with a compact fluorescent light will save the energy equivalent of 46 gallons of oil as well as one-half ton of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the bulb. CFLs use 25 percent of the electricity required for an incandescent lamp and last up to 10 times longer.

Air Force Engineering Technical Letter 07-7 stipulates that incandescent lamps are not to be used on Air Force installations - effective Oct. 19, 2007. CFLs are to be used instead by all installation and base organizations and tenants on Air Force property. CFLs can be used in ceiling-mounted fixtures, table/desk/pole lamps, exterior lights near doors and patios, conference rooms, restrooms and locker rooms, ceiling fan-mounted light fixtures, chandeliers, recessed can-type fixtures, wall sconces, floodlights, elevators, and this is not an all-inclusive list.

There are CFLs available for many applications - virtually anywhere incandescent lighting is used - from standard overhead lights and desk lamps to outdoor lighting. Special types of CFLs are available for a number of uses, such as dimming fixtures. Some CFLs do not work well in cold temperatures, but several manufacturers have produced lamps that are designed for outdoor use in colder climates. Several types and wattages of CFLs are available to military housing residents at the Self-Help Store.

If every household in the United States switched to Energy Star® light fixtures, we could save 70 billion kilowatt-hours and avoid the release of 100 billion pounds of CO2 per year--equivalent to removing 10 million cars from the road.

So, changing a light can change the world. We must not think that energy conservation is the responsibility of others - we all must participate. Energy security is national security. Change a light to improve efficiency and ask yourself "What else can I do to save energy today?"