Energy audit shows room for improvement Published Jan. 28, 2011 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- As a part of its "How Low Can We Go" initiative, the Robins Energy Office examined electrical usage on base over four recent holiday periods. What it found is we can go a lot lower. There were some positives. Over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, energy usage was down 8.2 percent and on New Year's Day it was down 3.5 percent from the same period in 2009. However, during the Christmas holiday electrical use was up 1 percent and during the Martin Luther King Day weekend it was up 8.7 percent from the previous year. "Unfortunately, it was a mixed bag of results," said Dave Bury, base energy manager. Bury said he's not sure yet why there was such a difference between the holidays, but it involves more than people failing to turn off computer monitors. While the Energy Office has continually stressed the importance of all Team Robins members turning off unnecessary "power drainers" before they leave work, Bury said there are many larger issues in play. Bury and other Energy Office personnel came to the base during the long weekends and found some of the shut-down operations which were supposed to take place in some buildings did not happen. Some buildings were still at the same internal temperature as if occupied. Bury said the Energy Office will continue to review its observations and search for ways to see more consistent reductions. The base has an overall goal of reducing energy usage 8 percent each month from the same month the previous year. "Our energy reduction goal is something we must meet," he said.