File Code: | 1310 | Date: | October 17, 2007
Route To: |
Subject: | Operations "Unplugged"
To: | WO Employees
Energy costs have increased dramatically over the last few years and these costs are now taking an increasingly greater share of our annual budget.  The department is working aggressively in an attempt to significantly reduce the energy that is consumed by the various agencies.  We are in support of this energy reduction effort and we need your help.
 
The month of October has been designated as “energy awareness month.”  The department has asked each agency in the Whitten, South and Yates Buildings to participate in an initiative called "USDA Unplugged."  Although the facilities in Rosslyn and Franklin Court are leased facilities, I am also including the floors of these buildings occupied by Forest Service employees to also participate in this initiative.  The effort is intended to demonstrate the important role we can play in energy conservation and thereby reducing our costs.  This initiative will also help to establish some base line data to determine how much energy can be saved by shutting down all the nonessential energy users after hours.

Beginning at the end of the work shift today, Wednesday, October 17, 2007, and again for the weekend of October 19-21, 2007, we ask each employee to turn off and unplug all non-critical equipment, including lights, printers, phone chargers, desktop computers, space heaters, etc.  Enclosed is a flyer letting you know what to turn off and what needs to be unplugged.

In the coming weeks the department will advise us on the results of this effort.  For more information on this initiative, please go to:  http://greening.usda.gov/USDA_Unplugged_Blue.pdf or www.greening.usda.gov.  You can also contact Delores Plum at 260-7586.
/s/ Jacqueline Myers (for):
HANK KASHDAN

Deputy Chief for Business Operations

Enclosure