Town Hall, dorm meetings emphasize changes Published Oct. 13, 2011 By Senior Airman Janine Thibault 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Eielson residents attended base housing town hall and dormitory resident meetings Oct. 4 and 5 to listen to the changes and information specific to the upcoming winter season and energy savings. Information provided at both meetings included topics such as snow removal, vehicle rules, general up-keep and energy conservation as high priorities. Base housing residents were informed of regulations that included the use of sensa-phones. If a house will be unoccupied for more than three days during the harsh weather conditions, the resident must acquire a sensa-phone from the self-help center. It ensures that if the temperature in the house drops below 50 degrees the occupants receive a warning alerting them to the temperature change. Another seasonal topic brought up by leadership was the use of festive lights. The holiday season will arrive soon and for those who will decorate their homes and yards it is important they follow the guidelines. Holiday decorations may only be displayed from Oct. 29 to March 31 and outdoor lighting must be Underwriters' Laboratories approved and hung only by removable clips. Dormitory residents were reminded of the most basic elements of living with other Airmen. They were encouraged to work together to keep the central area clean. To encourage this, there will be monthly room inspections that will reward the Airman with the cleanest rooms with a plaque and a day off. Another competition in place for Airmen is geared toward energy conservation. Dormitory residents were informed of the incentive in place that measures dorm buildings past energy usage against recent usage. The building that has the most dramatic decrease in energy expended will receive money to furnish the dorm with items the Airmen want such as games, furniture or electronics. According to Tech. Sgt. Jason Lady, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron airman dormitory leader, Airmen and their families can perform basic actions to do their part to contribute to energy conservation. Residents were reminded of the effect winter will have on their day-to-day habits. Windows and doors should not be left open to prevent the pipes from freezing and loss of heat. Lights should be turned off after use and any electronics should be turned off. "This is about teamwork," said Chief Master Sgt. Willard Lacy, 354th Mission Support Group chief enlisted manager. "Take pride in your facilities. That's the main purpose when we come by [the dorms] on morale checks. We want to see how everybody's doing and make sure everybody is working as a team." The town hall meetings covered a variety of topics that base leadership specifically wanted to disseminate to base residents.