The US Military announced on April 22^nd that the present lighting at its establishments would be swapped for energy-efficient CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lighting) – an announcement made as the world marked Earth Day.

Operation Change Out

The goal of ‘Operation Change Out’, as it has been named, is to replace every incandescent light bulb currently used by the US military at its bases.

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

One of these bases is North Carolina’s Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Among the features of Camp Lejeune – the area of which extends to 246 square miles -  are 540 tactical landing areas and 78 live-fire ranges.

Through the new drive, the base also now has had installed seventeen-and-a-half-thousand compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Less Energy, Fewer C02 Emissions

Such bulbs consume 25 per cent of the energy used by their predecessors, and provide up to fifteen times the longevity. With less electricity being used, fewer CO2 emissions are generated.

Lejeune is the first base within the US military to employ the bulbs.

Speaking from the site, Sam Bodman, US Energy Secretary commented: "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."

The Energy Department has said that, if every US military housing unit swapped just one incandescent bulb for a fluorescent one, C02 emission output would reduce by 95 million pounds.

In financial terms, the move would ultimately save nearly $7 million in costs.

"These energy savings could not come at a better time”, added Bodman.

"Energy demand is increasing rapidly here in the US and around the world as are energy prices. And these demand pressures will only increase with time."

Earth Day

Earth Day – marked on April 22^nd each year - commemorates the genesis of modern thought concerning environmental issues

Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent