CAMP LEJEUNE, NC – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman on Earth Day launched a joint Department of Energy (DOE) and Defense campaign to challenge military bases nationwide to change their incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in on-base housing. The ENERGY STAR® campaign, called Operation Change Out, will help bases across the country increase energy efficiency, save money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

“The ENERGY STAR® Operation Change Out campaign will help meet President Bush’s goal to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025,” Secretary Bodman said. “By using energy wisely the military can help us access the cheapest and cleanest source of new energy – the energy we waste each and every day.”

At Camp Lejune, Secretary Bodman was joined by Base Commanding Officer Col. Richard P. Flatau, Jr. at a ceremony where he installed the 17,500 ENERGY STAR® qualified CFL at one of Camp Lejeune’s military houses. Base personnel, residents and their families as well as over 250 school children attended the change out ceremony. Changing out 17,500 bulbs at Camp Lejeune, the first U.S. military base to participate in Operation Change Out, will prevent more than 7.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, save nearly five million kilowatt hours of electricity, and at least $500,000 on energy bills over the lifetime of the bulbs.

The ENERGY STAR® Operation Change Out campaign will help advance the President’s Executive Order 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management”, which directed federal agencies to decrease energy intensity and maximize use of renewable energy.  There are more than 200 military facilities located across the U.S. and changing one incandescent light bulb to a CFL in every on-base housing unit across the U.S. could prevent the emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of taking nearly 1,500 cars off the road for one year– and would cut nearly $7 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulbs.  One CFL can save about $30, or more, in electricity costs and prevent more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime, an equivalent of keeping nearly 200 pounds of coal from being burned. These light bulbs also use 75 percent less energy, last up to 15 times longer, and produce about 75 percent less heat than traditional incandescent models.

ENERGY STAR® is a joint U.S. Department of Energy-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, formed in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership that seeks to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency.  DOE and EPA work to offer businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy and money, while also helping to protect our environment.  More than 9,000 organizations have joined ENERGY STAR® as partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses.  The ENERGY STAR® label appears on more than 50 kinds of consumer products.  To learn more about ENERGY STAR®, and to view the revised program requirements, visit EnergyStar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.

Learn more about Operation Change Out.

Media contact(s):
Jennifer Scoggins, (202) 586-4940