TO:  All King County Employees

FR:  King County Executive Ron Sims

RE:  URGENT UPDATE - Energy saving actions

Earlier today Governor Gary Locke urged us all again to reduce energy consumption. King County will continue its efforts to reduce energy usage in all work locations as I indicated in an earlier message in December. The following will reiterate the practices King County will continue to follow to reduce energy consumption.

I again remind all County employees to take aggressive energy saving actions on the job and to understand and support the facilities management decisions that are being made. Please read these carefully as I am directing the following actions to remain in effect. These actions include:

County facilities/management

• Set thermostats in occupied areas of County buildings at 68 degrees, with the exception of health clinic examining rooms and the jails. Unoccupied areas will be reduced to 55 degrees where possible.
• Fans and heat in County buildings will be turned on as late as possible in the morning (usually at 7 a.m. or later if the building doesn’t open until 8 or 9 a.m.) and turned off as soon as possible at night (6 p.m. at the latest.) This will mean the buildings will be colder than usual prior to 10 a.m.
• Buildings that have room or area switches should turn off all lights when unoccupied
• Centrally controlled lighting will be turned on later (7 a.m.) and off earlier (6:30 p.m. at the latest). The County has already switched to high efficiency energy saving lighting throughout most of the county buildings and will be completing the remainder of the facilities soon.
• Special requests for weekend heating of facilities will be closely scrutinized.

County Employees

• Turn off all lights when not in use.
• Supplemental lighting should be turned on only after 10 a.m.
• There will be no use of electrical supplemental space heaters.
• Turn off computers and printers when you are not using them; at the end of the day and for the weekend.
• Minimize use of electrical appliances. Turn off when not in use.

At home (Please help at home as well)

• Use less power during the peak morning and evening hours.
• Restrict holiday lights use, even unplugging them during peak hours.
• Reduce your home temperature.
• Use microwaves rather than your ovens.
• Use your clothes washer and dryer and dishwasher less - and not during peak hours.

I greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Monday, the buildings will be cooler so wear your sweaters. Remember to turn off your computers, printers, lights and other electrical appliances before you leave today.

We are not sure how long this emergency energy situation will last, but we must all do our part.