Roll Call - Energy Awareness Month Published Oct. 18, 2007 By Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force WASHINGTON -- October is Energy Awareness Month. For Airmen, October is an opportunity to increase awareness of the energy challenges that confront our Air Force. The Air Force is the federal government's largest consumer of energy. In 2006, the Air Force consumed nearly 2.6 billion gallons of aviation fuel at a cost of almost $5.8 billion. When we included the energy required to operate our bases and fuel our ground vehicles, our total exceeded $7 billion. In a "State of the Union" address in January, President George W. Bush challenged Americans to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In response to this challenge, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne developed a three-part energy strategy for the Air Force. First, we will reduce our demand by increasing energy efficiency and decreasing energy consumption; second, we will increase our energy supplies by researching, testing and certifying new technologies including renewable and traditional energy sources to create new domestic sources of supply; third, we will create an Air Force culture where energy is a consideration in all we do. All Airmen play a vital role in carrying out this strategy, and the efforts of Airmen at every level are critical to our success. Airmen can make energy conservation part of their day-to-day activities through these simple actions: - Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms and offices. Also, unplug unnecessary or unused equipment - Keep thermostats between 65-70 degrees in winter and 75-80 degrees in summer months - Turn off computer monitors, printers and copiers when they are not in use - Keep government vehicles maintained and only drive them when absolutely necessary - Walk, carpool or use the base transportation system to conserve fuel These actions can have an extraordinary impact on our ability to free up resources and increase our energy efficiency.