MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- In an effort to save money and limit electricity use, the Corps told computer users Corpswide July 27, 2009, to power down their PCs before leaving work.
Marine Administrative Message 438/09 directs personnel using Marine Corps workstations and laptops to properly shut down their personal computer equipment at the end of each work day.
In addition, all monitors, fax machines, printers and copiers are to be shut down during nonworking hours and when not in use for prolonged periods of time during the day.
According to the message, this will result in a savings of $20 per year for one computer.
With nearly 2,400 Navy/Marine Corps Intranet computers here, according to Holly Stepp, NMCI spokeperson, the station could potentially save $48,000 per year.
The station spends $3 million to $4 million on electric bills annually, said Ron Durfey, station energy manager.
The new policy helps the Corpswide plan to reduce overall energy usage, said Durfey. Federal legislation requires the Marine Corps to reduce energy use by 3 percent per year.
It's general energy housekeeping for energy use. The policy states what Marines should already be doing, said Durfey.
Previously, computer users were required to restart their computers at the end of the work day and leave them on, so that updates could be automatically made after working hours.
Leaving the computer on will no longer be necessary, as computer technicians can remotely start the computers if updates need to be made.
“If you’re not using it, turn it off,” said Durfey.