AFCEC, Air Force celebrate 25th Energy Action Month

  • Published
  • By Jess Echerri
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is joining the Air Force and the rest of the federal government in a month-long observance of energy awareness this October.

Energy Action Month, hosted by the Department of Energy, is part of the Air Force's initiative to decrease consumption of all Air Force energy and its associated cost, which reached $9 billion last year, while supporting mission accomplishment. This year's theme, "Mission Assurance through Energy Assurance," indicates the important role energy has in accomplishing the Air Force mission.

"I'm always thankful that the Air Force sets aside a month out of the year to talk and focus on energy matters and awareness," said David Bek, director of the AFCEC Energy Directorate. "Every Air Force mission is reliant on energy to complete it."

Energy managers at each base are encouraged to participate in Energy Action Month by organizing commanders' calls and educating Airmen about individual efforts to save energy.

"Each base has an opportunity to take the campaign information and focus it to communicate to their Airmen how we can best accomplish our mission while conserving energy, and perhaps producing it," Bek said. "The awareness that comes about from this campaign will go a long way towards efficiently supporting Air Force missions and meeting Air Force energy goals... all year long.  So, please, listen, observe, participate, and contribute!"

One way Airmen are given a voice in energy efficiency is through Airmen Powered by Innovation, or API, a program that allows Airmen to submit their own ideas for Air Force process improvements. Ideas for better energy-saving practices can be submitted via the API page on the Air Force Portal.

"I encourage our Airmen to submit their ideas through API because it is an easy process and could potentially save the U.S. Air Force millions of dollars," said Master Sgt. Dan Linville, airfield damage repair superintendent at AFCEC. "The Airmen will also benefit as well. I always iterate to them it does not matter how small the issue is; whether it is motion-activated light control systems in our offices and workspaces or photovoltaics.  When we're talking about an air force of over 300,000 personnel, the savings could be astronomical."

For more information on Energy Action Month, visit the Secretary of the Air Force's Installations, Environment and Energy Office website at www.safie.hq.af.mil/energy/action/energyactionmonth.