"Operation Change Out" Spurs Efficient Lighting at Military Bases
April 23, 2008
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC — In honor of Earth Day, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Defense announced a new Energy Star campaign called "Operation Change Out," which will challenge military bases across the country to install ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in their on-base housing.
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman announced the new campaign at Camp Lejeune—a Marine Corps base near Jacksonville, North Carolina—as he installed the last of the 17,500 CFLs that have been placed in the camp's military houses. The new CFLs at Camp Lejeune will prevent more than 7.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions while saving nearly five million kilowatt-hours of electricity and at least $500,000 on energy bills over their lifetime.
There are more than 200 military facilities throughout the United States; changing one incandescent light bulb to a CFL in every on-base housing unit could prevent emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide and would cut nearly $7 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulbs.
CFLs consume 75% less energy and produce 75% less heat than standard incandescent light bulbs, while lasting up to 15 times longer.
See the DOE press release and the Operation Change Out Web site.
