Investments and individuals conserve energy at Scott AFB Published Oct. 20, 2010 By 375th Mission Support Group SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- One of the biggest obstacles to electrical energy conservation is its invisibility. You can't see it, can't smell it, and only notice it when it isn't there. This invisibility is part of why it's shocking to get an unexpectedly high electric bill--you know you use it, but there's no tangible way to gauge how much you use until the bill comes in the mail. This doesn't only apply to residential electric bills; it's also true for Scott Air Force Base's electric bill. This intangibility of electricity, coupled with the fact that very few of its users see the final bill may be the reason Scott's total electric bill for this year is $9 million. While a $9 million electric bill may seem insurmountable, the people of Scott all have the power to reduce our individual electrical use, which constitutes 75 percent of Scott's overall energy bill. The Scott Energy Management team has been proactive over the last year, upgrading many systems including lighting in 90 facilities, which saves 1.2 million watts a year. In addition, by upgrading toilets and sinks, Scott AFB is saving $14,000 a year. Future projects include upgrading 12 facilities to install remote access equipment to monitor climate, saving $362,000 a year. Scott is working on securing funds for seven projects to upgrade equipment across the base to save at least $270,000 per year. Though Scott's energy management team is working hard one project at a time to make our facilities more energy efficient, everyone at Scott can play a role. Small actions like turning off a light when leaving a room for a few minutes may seem insignificant but each individual's choice to do so can make a difference. Each person's actions add up--one day and one person at a time--this is key to Scott's energy conservation success. Building users must also be proactive and report energy problems to the facility manager who will notify the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron to get it fixed. This includes things such as area lighting that stays on because the photocells have gone bad and motors running hot because of faulty bearings. Anything that wastes energy should be reported. While there won't be individual recognition for replacing an incandescent bulb with a compact florescent light "curly-queue" bulb, turning off lights and monitors, or wearing a sweater instead of using a space heater, it's important to be aware that our energy conservation efforts today are building a leaner, greener future for the next generation.