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Tyndall participates in Operation Change Out

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  As Earth Day, April 22, 2009, approaches so does the last day of Energy Star's Operation Change Out.

OPERATION CHANGE OUT- THE MILITARY CHALLENGE, a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense which began April 22, 2008, is the first national, military-focused energy-efficiency campaign to encourage every serviceman and woman to save energy, money and protect the environment by replacing their inefficient, incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs.

The overarching goal of OCO is to replace at least one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified model in each residential unit or facility at participating military installations according to www.energystar.gov/oco.

"On average, you can expect to save $50 over the life of compact fluorescent light bulbs, which translates to a 556-pound reduction of carbon dioxide emissions," said Jon Caldwell, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Base Energy Manager. "CFLs pay for themselves in such a short time that it's worth replacing incandescent bulbs even before they burn out."

More than 80 bases nationwide have been involved in the OCO. Tyndall's goal this year is 628 bulbs but has already exceeded it by 500 percent.

"The Civil Engineer Self Help Store has been very proactive by trading out old incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs," said Mr. Caldwell. "During this competition Self Help and facilility managers have changed out 3,437 bulbs and counting."

At competition's end, Tyndall expects to have replaced more than 5,000 bulbs, which translates into approximately $240 thousand in life cycle savings over seven years according to the base energy manager.

For more information on the ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT, visit www.energystar.gov/oco.