U.S. Secretary of Energy joins Actus and Atlantic Marine Corps Communities to launch ‘Operation Change Out’

Earth Day marks a major milestone for the U.S. Military, Atlantic Marine Corps Communities and Actus Lend Lease as the first ever Operation Change Out takes place. (Pictured Left to Right: Base Commander, Col. Richard Flatau, Jeffrey Simon, Ginny Lejeune her daughter Gracie, and Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman)

On April 22nd, the U.S. Secretary of Energy visited Camp Lejeune, a development of Actus Lend Lease’s Atlantic Marine Corps Communities (AMCC), to officially begin Operation Change-Out.

The first military-focused campaign of its kind, Operation Change-Out encourages Service Members to save energy, money and the environment by switching out incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star-qualified bulbs.

While at AMCC’s Camp Lejeune, Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman, was on hand to switch out the very last of 17,500 incandescent light bulbs in more than 8,000 homes on the base. Bodman said the new light bulbs will save 62.1 million kilowatt hours over the life of the bulbs, representing a substantial reduction in national energy use, cut nearly $7 million in energy costs and prevent the emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being put in the air.

Jeffrey Simon, President of Actus Lend Lease, was also present to take part in the inaugural event.

"(Compact florescent light bulbs) can make a tremendous difference with a 70 percent reduction in energy," he said. "We adults need to be conscious of what we are doing and not to waste resources, and make a demonstration for the kids today."

Altogether, Atlantic Marine Corps Communities has changed out over 35,000 bulbs within its communities and Actus Lend is committed to changing-out 400,000 light bulbs at all of its sites throughout the country.

For more information on the Operation Change Out campaign: www.energystar.gov