Be active, take A.C.T.I.O.N. Published Oct. 6, 2011 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Take "action" this Energy Awareness Month. In honor of the Air Force theme, "Power the Force, Fuel the Fight," officials encourage Tinker personnel to be more than bystanders; be extra observant. Or, take "A.C.T.I.O.N." and perform the following -- Appliance reduction, Computer log-off, Temperature set points, Inform facility managers, Outdoor conservation and No waste. "Think about your daily routines and ways to conserve energy and water," said Britton Young, Tinker's Energy Team point-of-contact in the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate. "Every time we save energy, we're also saving dollars that can be spent on the mission - Fly, Fight, Win." Practicing energy and water conservation efforts at Tinker is nothing new, but officials said they want to continue to encourage Team Tinker to practice good behavior and help the base reach its energy goals. Tinker's goal is to reduce electricity usage by 50 percent by 2016 and the water usage by 65 percent in the next five years. The Air Force goals as a whole are to reduce energy intensity by 3 percent per year and water usage by 2 percent per year. Among the actions Tinker personnel can do is reducing the number of appliances in a workspace. Ms. Young said at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, a base energy manager found 810 appliances -- including radios, toasters, fans, refrigerators, microwaves and coffeemakers -- that could be unplugged or eliminated in just two buildings. Tinker personnel can also log-off their computers at the end of the work day. Ms. Young said the Air Force Information Technology Power Management Team has approximated more than $10 million can be saved each year by ensuring a computer will enter energy-saving sleep mode. Another action Tinker personnel can do is setting thermostats to Air Force-recommended temperatures. During heating season, it is suggested administrative areas and classrooms be set at 68 degrees, shop spaces at 65 degrees, warehouses and hangar spaces at 60, and when leaving for the day, set the temperature back to 55 degrees in administrative, classroom and shop areas and to 50 degrees in warehouse and hangar spaces. If air conditioning is necessary, keep the thermostat at 76 degrees. During peak hours, raise it to 78 degrees. Ms. Young said this rule-of-thumb is particularly important during the summer months when the cost of energy is five times more expensive between the peak hours of 2 and 7 p.m. "We know our heating and cooling systems are not perfect, so work spaces might not be at the optimum comfort level, but please don't use space heaters unless it's for a medical need," Ms. Young. "We encourage people to dress appropriately for the temperatures in their facility. If your building is generally too cool or too hot be aware of that and wear layers if you need to." If something doesn't seem right, tell your facility manager about the issue. If you not are aware of who your facility manager is, call 72nd ABW/CE Customer Service at 734-3117 for more information. If something doesn't seem right outside, call and report the issue to 72nd ABW/CE Customer Service. "It might be somebody accidentally left a light on, or it could mean that it is broken," Ms. Young said. "Don't turn a blind eye to problems. Do something or tell someone." To submit an energy conservation suggestion, email energy@tinker.af.mil.