Energy Conservation 

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MEMORANDUM 

To:                All Employees in the Washington Metropolitan Area 

From:                P. Lynn Scarlett 
                Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management & Budget 

Subject:          Energy Conservation 

The nation is currently experiencing energy shortages and unprecedented 
heat and drought conditions throughout the country.  Utility companies are 
having difficulty meeting demand, shortages are occurring, and the energy 
prices we pay year-round may significantly increase because of our high 
peak usage this summer.  Our utility companies have a limit on the amount 
of electricity that can be generated at any one point in time.  Under more 
normal operating conditions, our area utilities buy and sell electricity 
from/to neighboring generating systems throughout the mid-Atlantic area.  
Under unusual conditions such as those that have gripped the region over 
recent weeks, our utility firms are unable to purchase additional 
electricity from these firms.  Every positive action we take to conserve 
energy helps the Department and it helps our country. 

The Secretary expects the Department to be the premier energy conservation 
agency and lead by example.   Energy conservation is everyone's 
responsibility, and to be successful, we need your full support and 
cooperation.  I ask each of you for your commitment to take immediate 
actions to reduce energy consumption in all of our facilities in the 
Washington Metropolitan Area.  By doing such little things as turning off 
idle machines and reducing the use of energy-guzzling equipment, such as 
microwaves, we can save the Department and U.S. taxpayers considerable 
money. 

At the Interior Complex, I have asked Tim Vigotsky, Director, National 
Business Center (NBC) to take the lead in promoting energy conservation 
throughout the Main and South Buildings.  NBC is launching a campaign and 
in the upcoming weeks you will see some of the following actions: 

'        NBC will initiate a series of educational bulletins related to 
energy conservation.  Topics will include energy saving tips for the home 
and the office; plans for a demonstration green roof for the Main Interior 
Building (MIB), energy costs and how we are charged for energy, 
conservation projects underway, recycling benefits, energy efficiencies 
through the MIB modernization and load curtailment programs and Energy 
Saving Partnerships. 

'        NBC will establish a friendly competition between bureaus and 
offices within the Interior Complex to see which organization can reduce 
the most energy and has the best energy saving ideas.  Some form of 
recognition is planned. 

'        NBC will establish local policy on the use of personal appliances 
and electrical equipment. 

Please join us in this very important effort to conserve our precious 
energy resources.  Thank you.