Energy Saving Tips

Energy is used by nearly all of us in some way every day. While it makes our lives more convenient, it can have an effect on the environment.
We use energy daily when we drive to work, power our appliances and when we climate-control our living environments.
Energy saving is an important part of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden's Strategic Planning.
Latest: Garrison Energy Steering Committee Meeting, Dec. 13, 2012
 

Reasons to Conserve Energy:
Save natural resourcesSave natural resources: Energy is a valuable resource that is produced today mainly from the existing and sometimes scarce fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas. In most U.S. homes, each time a switch is flipped or a dial is turned, electricity - generated using natural energy resources - is consumed. These resources are limited.
 
Save moneySave money: Energy costs money – Saving energy saves money! Even if you live in Government Housing and you are currently not directly paying for your energy consumption, it is still paid for with U.S. taxpayers’ money.
 
The greenhouse effectThe Greenhouse Effect: Any use of energy releases toxic substances and greenhouse gases. Especially the emission of greenhouse gases that are responsible for global warming through the greenhouse effect, must be reduced as soon as possible, above all the carbon dioxide.
 
Save Energy, Save Money
Lighting
• Replace old light bulbs of your home against energy saving light bulbs immediately. Energy saving light bulbs are available in different sizes at the Home Improvement Store (HIS) at Hainerberg Housing Area. Important note: Dispose exhausted energy saving light bulbs properly. • Switch off lights or any other electrical devices if not needed. Standby mode is often not equal to energy saving. Use switchable multiple socket outlets to shut off devices.

Heating
• Don't open your windows in tilt position during heating period to bring fresh air in. It is much more effective to open the window entirely for about 5 to 10 minutes until the air is refreshed. The usually less humid air coming in warms up very quickly while a tilt window keeps the humidity in the room and consumes more heating energy since it primarily heats up the humidity in the air. This wet air always feels colder than dry air and may even animate you to increase the room temperature. While energy disappears quickly through tilt windows the humidity stays and may turn into mold above the window.
Domestic Hot Water
Hot water means, it has been heated up by using energy. Therefore, shut it off if not required. This saves heating energy, water and money as well.
• Shut water off between washing your hands and rinsing.
• Use shower preferably, rather than bathing in a bathtub.
• Keep shower time short.
Air Condition and Refrigeration
• Air condition is per regulation not authorized for comfort use. However, if you have to manage an air condition in your area of responsibility, set it to the minimum required cooling temperature rather than to the maximum.
• Set the temperature of your refrigerator to 7° C. This temperature is most common for declaration of food expiration dates. To set temperatures below requires additional energy which results in additional cost.
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden has its own tailored Energy Conservation Checklist of things you can do to save energy.
Besides that, there is a lot of guidance available on the Internet. One of the most helpful sites is the U.S. Department of Energy where you can download the Energy Savers Booklet. For information about the Building Monitors Energy Guide click here.
Click here for information about Energy Conservation and Water Efficiency. And here for information on the Energy Steering Committee.

Also available are energy awareness training videos for building managers at the Army Energy Program website.