thedrifter
04-23-08, 02:37 AM
Kids, Marines help out the planet
Energy secretary visits, teams up with Lejeune for Earth Day event
April 23, 2008 - 2:22AM
HEATHER GALE
THE DAILY NEWS
By Heather Gale
Daily News STaff
Changing a light bulb can change the world.
That was the message Tuesday during Operation Change Out, the first military-focused campaign to encourage every service member to save energy, money and the environment by replacing incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star-qualified bulbs.
Camp Lejeune, the Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, Energy Star, the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense joined for Operation Change Out.
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said Operation Change Out is an important event because it calls for exchanging old incandescent lights with new florescent light bulbs.
"It is important for all us to use energy more efficiently," Bodman said. "The mere fact that it now costs $117 to buy a barrel of oil is a huge price, and there is a message there. The message is we better get busy and start using oil, natural gas, coal in a lot more efficient fashion that we have been using it."
When Bodman came to Camp Lejeune this week, he helped change the last of 17,500 light bulbs in more than 8,000 homes on the base.
Altogether, Atlantic Marine Corps Communities has changed a total of 35,000 light bulbs within their communities.
"(The benefit is that) the light bulbs last quite a bit longer, (and) they use a lot less energy," he said.
Although the bulbs cost a bit more, people who use them help improve the environment and save money, Bodman said.
"So it is a low-cost way for people to benefit from their efforts to improve the environment," he said. "We have a major problem in America, because the cost of energy is very high today."
Bodman said the new light bulbs will save 62.1 million kilowatt hours over the life of the bulbs, representing a substantial reduction in national energy use, cut nearly $7 million in energy costs and prevent the emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being put in the air.
"That is like nearly 1,500 cars off the road," he said.
Part of the program was also devoted to educating youths on energy conservation.
Camp Lejeune residents Sarah Witzig, Natosha Sheaffer and Megan Hough, all 13 years old, staffed a booth to educate people about the compact florescent light bulbs.
"It is important for use to save energy," Megan said. "Energy is our future and we need to get carbon dioxide out (of the air) now."
Sarah, Natosha and Megan each won $3,000 in savings bonds for their booth.
Camp Lejeune has also made overall goals to reduce its energy use by 30 percent before 2016.
Col. Richard Flateau, commanding officer of Camp Lejeune, said replacing the incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs is just one action the base is taking to be better stewards of the environment and to conserve energy.
Plans call for the use of renewable initiatives like solar energy and biomass facilities as well as conservation of energy through energy-efficient light bulbs and education, according to a press release.
Jeffrey Simon, president of Actus Lend Lease, said the element his company brings to the table is the homes. Actus Lend Lease is the owner of the Atlantic Marine Corps Communities housing.
"(Compact florescent light bulbs) can make a tremendous difference with a 70 percent reduction in energy," he said. "We adults need to be conscious of what we are doing and not to waste resources, and make a demonstration for the kids today."
Contact Jacksonville and Onslow County government reporter Heather Gale at hgale@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8464. Visit jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie
Energy secretary visits, teams up with Lejeune for Earth Day event
April 23, 2008 - 2:22AM
HEATHER GALE
THE DAILY NEWS
By Heather Gale
Daily News STaff
Changing a light bulb can change the world.
That was the message Tuesday during Operation Change Out, the first military-focused campaign to encourage every service member to save energy, money and the environment by replacing incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star-qualified bulbs.
Camp Lejeune, the Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, Energy Star, the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense joined for Operation Change Out.
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said Operation Change Out is an important event because it calls for exchanging old incandescent lights with new florescent light bulbs.
"It is important for all us to use energy more efficiently," Bodman said. "The mere fact that it now costs $117 to buy a barrel of oil is a huge price, and there is a message there. The message is we better get busy and start using oil, natural gas, coal in a lot more efficient fashion that we have been using it."
When Bodman came to Camp Lejeune this week, he helped change the last of 17,500 light bulbs in more than 8,000 homes on the base.
Altogether, Atlantic Marine Corps Communities has changed a total of 35,000 light bulbs within their communities.
"(The benefit is that) the light bulbs last quite a bit longer, (and) they use a lot less energy," he said.
Although the bulbs cost a bit more, people who use them help improve the environment and save money, Bodman said.
"So it is a low-cost way for people to benefit from their efforts to improve the environment," he said. "We have a major problem in America, because the cost of energy is very high today."
Bodman said the new light bulbs will save 62.1 million kilowatt hours over the life of the bulbs, representing a substantial reduction in national energy use, cut nearly $7 million in energy costs and prevent the emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being put in the air.
"That is like nearly 1,500 cars off the road," he said.
Part of the program was also devoted to educating youths on energy conservation.
Camp Lejeune residents Sarah Witzig, Natosha Sheaffer and Megan Hough, all 13 years old, staffed a booth to educate people about the compact florescent light bulbs.
"It is important for use to save energy," Megan said. "Energy is our future and we need to get carbon dioxide out (of the air) now."
Sarah, Natosha and Megan each won $3,000 in savings bonds for their booth.
Camp Lejeune has also made overall goals to reduce its energy use by 30 percent before 2016.
Col. Richard Flateau, commanding officer of Camp Lejeune, said replacing the incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs is just one action the base is taking to be better stewards of the environment and to conserve energy.
Plans call for the use of renewable initiatives like solar energy and biomass facilities as well as conservation of energy through energy-efficient light bulbs and education, according to a press release.
Jeffrey Simon, president of Actus Lend Lease, said the element his company brings to the table is the homes. Actus Lend Lease is the owner of the Atlantic Marine Corps Communities housing.
"(Compact florescent light bulbs) can make a tremendous difference with a 70 percent reduction in energy," he said. "We adults need to be conscious of what we are doing and not to waste resources, and make a demonstration for the kids today."
Contact Jacksonville and Onslow County government reporter Heather Gale at hgale@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8464. Visit jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie