‘UnPlug It’ initiative takes action on conserving energy

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --   Col. John Devillier, 88th Air Base Wing commander, continues to ask Wright-Patterson Air Force Base employees to pursue frugality and responsible stewardship of the nation's resources.

That's where the "Un-PlugIt" campaign comes in, especially as base personnel anticipate the Thanksgiving holiday/ Air Force Materiel Command Family Day on Nov. 27-28. Personnel may want to mark their calendar for Nov. 26 and unplug devices that won't be used over the long weekend or connect them to a device that shuts off power automatically.

Devillier pointed out during a recent commander's call that the nation's debt is a national security concern.

"Individually we all play a part. Turn off your lights; use your resources   wisely," he said. "Don't think of it as the government's money. It's our dollars."

Even devices that have a power-save function should be unplugged as the device may be older and not save as much as new devices' functions would.

A list of some of the equipment that may be unplugged includes coffee pots, message monitors, printers/scanners, authorized space heaters, radios; desk lamps/ task lighting, shredders, fax machines, microwaves, monitors/ speakers, and projectors.

Items that should remain plugged in include computers --CPUs, laptops, servers, network switches, etc.

Participating in this initiative has the potential to save about 60 hours of energy per weekend per employee, according to energy officials.