CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The base has launched the Energy Star Operation Change Out - the military challenge. The national campaign, a joint effort between the Department of Defense and  Energy, encourages conservation by replacing inefficient incandescent light bulbs with more efficient bulbs. 

Cannon's goal is to exchange 1,053 inefficient light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulbs by Oct. 1, said Steven Myers, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron. The effort will save 592,313 kilowatt hours of electricity and $64,543 on electric bills, preventing 909,200 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the bulbs. 

The housing maintenance self-help store has three types of compact fluorescent bulbs available for free-issue to housing residents: regular bulbs for light fixtures and lamps, globe (style) for bathroom fixtures, and decorative tulip bulbs for chandeliers. Facility managers can also pick up the standard compact fluorescent bulbs for base facilities at the base self-help store.

Following basewide bulb replacement, housing residents can then replace their burned bulbs at housing self help, said April Reams, self help dispatcher. 

"We will do a one-for-one swap so we can properly dispose of the old bulbs," she said. 

For more information, call 784-8365.