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Quick Facts

Changing just one incandescent light bulb to an ENERGY STAR qualified light bulb in every on-base housing unit in the U.S. would have the following impact:

  • Save about 62 million kilowatt hours over the lifetime of the bulbs, enough energy to light about 32,000 homes for a year!
  • Save nearly $7 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulbs. That’s enough money to purchase more than a dozen mine-resistant, ambush-protected armored vehicles.
  • Prevent the emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking nearly 1,500 cars off the road.


OPERATION CHANGE OUT Campaign Guide PDF (3.2MB)
OPERATION CHANGE OUT Talking Points PDF (143KB)
OPERATION CHANGE OUT About Doc PDF (154KB)
OPERATION CHANGE OUT Fact Assumptions PDF (149KB)


What is ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT — THE MILITARY CHALLENGE?

ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT — THE MILITARY CHALLENGE, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy, (DOE), and the U.S. Department of Defense, (DoD), is the first national, military-focused energy-efficiency campaign to encourage every serviceman and woman to save energy, money, and protect the environment by replacing their inefficient, incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs.

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What is the goal of ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT?

The overarching goal of OPERATION CHANGE OUT is to replace at least one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified model in each residential unit at participating military installations.

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How will progress be measured?

It all starts on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Progress will be measured in the following ways:

  • Individuals pledging to change out light bulbs on behalf of a base will be tracked in real time through the Online pledge driver, which can be viewed at www.energystar.gov/OCO. The total number of on base housing units and/or on base facilities that have incandescent bulbs to change out will serve as your base’s target pledge goal. Progress towards pledge goals will be announced on October 1, 2008, ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day.
  • The number of participating on base units (residential or otherwise) will be a primary measure of your base’s achievement of your target pledge goal. For an on base unit (residential or otherwise) to participate, at least one bulb must be changed out.
  • The total number of bulbs changed is another measure of your progress. Some bases may change more than one bulb per unit. Reporting the total verifiable number of bulbs changed in all base locations will enhance your results. High volume change-out efforts should be reported to OperationChangeOut@drintl.com for tracking purposes.
  • Photos and highlights of your educational and promotional efforts can be submitted for possible posting on the campaign Web site. Bases demonstrating exemplary, verifiable results and outstanding promotional activities will be eligible for national recognition from ENERGY STAR in 2009.

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Who can participate in OPERATION CHANGE OUT?

Any U.S. military installation can participate in OPERATION CHANGE OUT. The idea of the effort is to bring people together to work towards achieving the goal of changing out inefficient lighting to ENERGY STAR qualified lighting. This collaboration includes combined efforts from DOE, DOD, privatized housing providers, the base PX, base energy managers, base or outside base community organizations, utility companies, Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors, ENERGY STAR manufacturing and retail partners, lamp recycling programs and others.

  • Military Installations

    Designate a base champion, such as the base energy manager, to lead and organize the effort. The base champion can work directly with campaign staff to help track and publicize progress, educate the community and achieve measurable results. The campaign team can help you work with ENERGY STAR partners to procure large quantities of ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs for your on base, or you can simply request ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs from your current supplier.

  • Privatized Military Housing Providers

    Distinguish your company as environmentally responsible while boosting your return on investment. Changing to ENERGY STAR qualified products will help keep your energy costs down as energy prices rise. The ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT campaign team can help you work with ENERGY STAR manufacturing partners to procure large quantities of ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs.

  • Utilities and Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors

    Adopt a base in your service territory, and help the DoD installation replace inefficient bulbs. Educate the base on ENERGY STAR lighting and other actions to reduce energy use. Participate in an event.

  • ENERGY STAR Light Bulb Manufacturing Partners

    Work with a housing provider or base to help them buy large quantities of bulbs or explore other opportunities to help. ENERGY STAR manufacturing partners interested in supporting base communities should contact the ENERGY STAR account manager for guidance.

  • ENERGY STAR Retail Partners

    ENERGY STAR retail partners interested in supporting base communities should contact the ENERGY STAR account manager for guidance. Possible opportunities include working with manufacturers and program sponsors to provide coupons for service men and women, or integrating the campaign message into end caps and POP materials.

  • Post Exchanges

    Check your stock of ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs to find out the variety of shapes, colors and wattages available. If feasible, consider expanding the variety of bulbs you offer. Contact ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT staff for product guides, display suggestions, guidance on promotional partnerships and to receive campaign posters for your PX.

  • On and Off Base Community Groups

    Community groups both on and off base can work together with others participating in OPERATION CHANGE OUT to contribute to events, conduct outreach and educational efforts throughout the community, and encourage people to take the pledge.

  • Lamp Recyclers

    Hazardous waste and lamp recycling programs can help support bases and housing providers by working to establish easy-to-use recycling services, where needed. These services meet the needs of the installation for responsible management of the light bulbs when it’s time to recycle.

  • Others

    While OPERATION CHANGE OUT is specifically focused on the U.S. military community, everyone can participate in CHANGE THE WORLD, START WITH ENERGY STAR. Visit www.energystar.gov/changetheworld to learn how you can be a part of a national effort to fight global climate change.

Contact ENERGY STAR OPERATION CHANGE OUT campaign staff at operationchangeout@drintl.com for more information.

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