October Is Energy Awareness Month

DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), is observing Energy Awareness Month by offering conservation ideas that can help us save energy all year round. FEMP's mission is to reduce the cost of government by helping agencies reduce energy and water use, manage utility costs, and promote renewable energy. FEMP works closely with the Facilities Division to find ways of reducing Berkeley Lab's energy use.

What can each of us do to help? The main thing, according to Syed Ali, the Facilities Division's energy analyst, is to shut down our computers, monitors, and printers when we go home. Paper-reducing strategies such as double-sided printing, reusing paper, and using email instead of sending memos or faxing documents not only save energy but conserve other resources.

Here are a few more energy saving tips:

• Turn off lights when leaving a room for more than a minute.
  
  
• Shut off coffee pots, radios, fans, and other appliances.
  
  
• Set thermostats to pre-cool spaces at off-peak times.

FEMP's website offers an abundance of resources on energy conservation.