New Mexico Minuteman - Summer 2011 - Keep Trees

AS ENERGY COSTS INCREASE,
USE MUST DECREASE
By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary
Construction & Facilities Management Offi ce, NMARNG
Imagine arriving home on a winter day.
The gas furnace is running full blast. The
back door is open as your children play
outside. When asked, they say that it’s
easier to leave it open. You close the door
and turn off lights, televisions and game
consoles in empty rooms.
Six months later you come home on
a summer day to fi nd the same situation,
only now it’s cooled air escaping. Again,
you close the door and turn off unattended
lights and appliances.
These scenarios are fi ctitious at home.
Your kids know better and you care
because waste costs you money. However,
this is a daily reality in New Mexico
National Guard facilities. Look around.
Somewhere a door is propped open
because it’s easier than fi nding the key.
An offi ce has windows open because it’s
too hot or cold. Lights are on in empty
latrines, storage rooms and even the drill
hall. Sprinklers spray as much water onto
concrete as they do grass.
The problem is that people don’t think
about energy at work because they don’t
know that they are paying for it. If you work
for the New Mexico National Guard, even
part time, you pay income tax. Tax dollars
pay for our utilities. Federal money fl ows
from the national defense budget. Money
lost to waste could be spent on pay raises,
benefi ts or new equipment.
Waste has a local impact. Consider that
cracked sidewalk in front of the armory.
Every year it gets worse. Blame the Construction
& Facilities Management Offi ce if
you like, but realize that we pay for utilities
out of the same account used for maintenance.
Since we cannot operate without
utilities, repairs have to be postponed.
The situation is about to worsen. The
New Mexico Gas Company has requested
state permission to raise rates. If approved,
this means an 8.5 percent increase beginning
February 2012. To be fair, the New
Mexico Gas Company has offered compelling
reasons for the increase. Since 2005,
the company has invested more than $215
million in infrastructure and plans on spending
another $34 million in 2011 for more
improvements. The price hike, however,
will affect the New Mexico National Guard.
What can you do to help? It’s easier
than you think. Close doors and windows
when the air is conditioned. Exterior doors
are important, but interior doors count too.
It’s wasteful to condition air in unoccupied
areas. If the foyer has two sets of doors, it’s
for insulation – not looks. Close both sets.
Set thermostats to no lower than 78
degrees in summer and no higher than
65 degrees in winter. During unoccupied
hours, thermostats should be set back at
least 10 degrees. This can save at least 10
percent on our energy bills.
Turn off unused lights. The last person
exiting a room should do this. Lights should
also be turned off when there is enough daylight
from windows with which to work. Outside
lights should be shut off after dawn.
Turn off computers, copiers and other
appliances when not in use. Leaving offi ce
machines on during non-duty hours wastes
money.
Watch how water is used at your building.
Sinks and showers should have water
running only when they are being actively
used. The C&FMO has published guidance
that personnel take “combat” showers.
The C&FMO is aggressively reducing
energy use and increasing renewable
energy, such as wind turbines and solar
panels. Additional ideas are welcome, but
compliance is expected. Remember, it is
your money.
Summer 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 17