Resolve to save energy

  • Published
  • By James E. Fitzpatrick, P.E.
  • 86th Civil Engineer Group deputy commander
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Parting is such sweet sorrow. Depending on how gripping you find the first balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet's parting may or may not be "such sweet sorrow." In any case, her phrase is an oxymoron, combining contradictory ideas of pleasure and pain. Parting is sorrowful because Juliet would prefer Romeo didn't leave. Parting is pleasurable, presumably, because doing anything with Romeo lightens Juliet's mood.

This sums up how I feel about parting with my office refrigerator. Parting is sorrowful because the refrigerator is so convenient to have in my office. Parting is pleasurable because it is an extravagance I don't need.

We already have an office refrigerator near our break room that has plenty of space for my needs. But, it didn't occur to me how much of an extravagance my office refrigerator is until I took stock of its contents. Various packets of mustard, ketchup and hot sauce, a jar of mayonnaise, a can of vegetable juice, yogurt and three bottles of beer with a "born on" date of March 18, 2005.

Apparently, these three bottles were orphaned back in 2005 and have been "hand me downs" ever since. I sort of hate to break the "hand me down" tradition, but it's time to part with my office refrigerator ... even at the expense of these very mature drinks.

As the New Year approaches and you take stock of your surroundings and make New Year's resolutions, consider resolving to reduce the amount of energy spent on the various appliances in your office space. Take an inventory of the number of refrigerators, microwaves, transformers, coffee makers, fans, toasters and other miscellaneous appliances you have in the building. Common sense will tell you if you have excess.

Conserving energy saves money and protects the environment. And, if you need assistance on the turn-in procedures for government owned appliances, call the Air Force energy manager for Ramstein Air Base, Vogelweh Military Complex, and Sembach Annex at 480-3723.

Happy Holidays from the 86 Civil Engineer Group.