REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - Energy is key to everything the Army does: it keeps the lights on, water running and vehicles moving.

Each October, the Army observes Energy Action Month to remind Soldiers, civilians and families that energy is a mission enabler and a force multiplier for a ready and resilient Army. This year's theme, "Energy Resilience Enables Army Readiness," highlights the importance of achieving energy security and resilience throughout the Army.

"The Army's ability to accomplish its mission at home and abroad depends on secure, uninterrupted access to energy," said Jeff Harrison, Army Materiel Command's facilities energy program manager.

To secure critical missions on installations, the Army has set a goal of having 14 days' worth of the necessary energy and water, in case of an emergency.

"As you would prepare your own house for a potential emergency, the Army has to be ready and able to continue its mission," Harrison said. "Energy resilience gives us the ability to anticipate, recover from and adapt to interruptions in fuel, electricity and water supplies."

In addition to improving resilience, reducing energy demand improves AMC's bottom line. Last fiscal year, AMC installations spent $104 million on energy utilities at the 23 Organic Industrial Base installations. Energy Action Month is a chance to remind everyone to be mindful of energy use and look at how they can reduce consumption, Harrison said.

"We want to enhance employee awareness about what they can do both at work and at home to reduce their energy footprint," he said. "Just turning off a flat-screen computer monitor at the end of the day can save $15 a year. That number seems small, but when you add every monitor the potential cost savings is huge with around $24,000 at AMC headquarters alone."