LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With energy conservation becoming more and more important executives at, Fisher House have devised the idea to install energy efficient light bulbs throughout all three of the houses.
Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.
Responsible energy practices are increasingly falling into the hands of individuals, with more and more people coming up with innovative ideas to save money and electricity and paying more attention to the environment.
Dwayne Hopkins, executive director of the Fisher House said Lackland's Fisher Houses stand out among the others in the Air Force community.
"We have 642 light bulbs, and each light bulb saves $32 a year," he said. "You save $20,000 in a year. The total cost of the light bulbs was $1,500, and we'll make that up in about six weeks."
"We are all responsible to save energy, regardless of the utility," 37th Training Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Len Patrick said. "When we turn off lights, only use the minimally necessary water, watch the thermostat and car pool, we guarantee the energy needs of our grandchildren are taken care of. We are also good neighbors to our local community. We need to create a culture that is determined to conserve our scarce energy resources."
"This will be the first Fisher House of 38 worldwide to go 100 percent light bulb energy efficient," he said.
Fisher House management had some help in their efforts to save electricity in all three of the houses.
"Galm Elementary helped us raise a lot of the money for the light bulbs," said Mr. Hopkins. "They sold these little rubber duckies for a dollar. They raised more than $500, and the ducks cost them 50 cents per unit."
"I have a deployment group, with kids whose parents are deployed, that I work with throughout the year," Galm school counselor Janine Cleveland said. "Most of these kids' parents come from Lackland and Wilford Hall. My dad was in the Air Force and spent time in Wilford Hall, so I identify with them."
The children sold the ducks at their school, where they were extremely popular.
"We ran out in three days and had to put a 'sold out' sign out," said Ms. Cleveland. "We just ordered more and kept selling them."
Galm was not the only entity to raise money for the cause. Lackland Airman Leadership School students and Senior Airmen Shannon Murray, Krystal Hoy, Brian Graef and Garrett Simerson were among many from the school who helped raise the $1,257.80 they donated to the Fisher House June 6.
"The commissary donated chips and hot dogs that we sold," said Airman Simerson. "We raised $670 from that, and the rest was raised through donations and collections."
Most of the heavy lifting to install the new bulbs was done by Staff Sgt. Geoffrey Lewis, who said he spent three weeks installing bulbs at all three Fisher Houses.
"I was put on casual duty and was really into helping the Fisher House," he said, noting that he'd been volunteering since February. "My family was at Fisher House while I was hospitalized at Travis Air Force Base, (Calif.)."