FOTOFAX BREVARD PLANT PHOTO PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT (SDPOftt) Vol. 12, No. 3 March, 1979 Fresh Debate For Lake Fishers M t-33T ."'I ( Clouds of vapor almost obscure CP on this cold day. At present, there s no practical way to recover this low grade lost heat. Funds have been approved for addition of more fish to Lake DERA. The present population of bass, bluegills and channel catfish may find they have rainbow trout as neighbors. Stocking the lake with trout is being considered in response to com plaints from some members who find the lake fishing a bit dull. There is considerable discussion right now concerning fishing in the lake. Some members want a lake fishing committee to keep the lake stocked, as the present fishing com mittee does with streams. This would require people fishing in the lake to pay a fee, as the trout stream fishers do. Others enjoy the lake as a lazy place to relax without being bothered too often by overly aggressive fish; these would prefer the lake staying on a no charge basis. Whatever your feelings, be sure to share them with either your representative or Joe Light, DERA President. Fishing is one of the most popular DERA activities. All money received from fishing fees is reinvested in fish, but Orville Mull, chairman of the fishing committee, points out that today's dollar buys fewer fish. Channel catfish are much more costly than trout. If you hook a fish you don't want, particularly one of those lake catfish, free it as gently as you can and release it. Give the fish, and some other angler, another chance. Trout streams on the property have been freshly stocked. Energy Committeemen Face Growing Challenge Energy conservation became a com mon concern in the mid-70's when the declining supply became a personal problem. When one of the family must wait in line for gasoline, the reality of shortage became obvious. Prices which had been stable for years increased, then increased some more. Oil based commodities other than fuel became more expensive as petroleum costs went up. For a while, people turned off the bathroom light and bought smaller cars; then higher prices seem to have^been accepted as a fact of life. About a year before the gas shortage, a job of "Energy Specialist" was created on the plant. Jerry Stamey first held the title. Energy saving programs were nothing new to Du Pont, but the assign ment of dedicated manpower was some thing new at this plant. Our effort to conserve has been aggressive from the start. When Jerry started in 1973, he focused his efforts on fuel usage in the powerhouse. By the end of the year, not only had the plant realized substantial savings, but Jerry had also defined a very large job yet to be done. In January, 1974, a full fledged committee was established to assemble knowledgeable people from all plant areas. Jim McKie was its first chairman. Bob McGee followed Jim; Ken Walend later replaced McBee and is the current energy engineer. Each month the committee reviews progress and discusses ideas for further savings. Each member applies either knowledge of energy usage or expertise in an operating area. Changes based on work of this committee saved the equivalent of more than eighteen thousand barrels of oil in 1978. Norm Alford, assistant plant mana ger, recently talked at a meeting of the energy committee. Flis statement of management's view of the energy problem may be of interest to you. I think we're beginning to behave more responsibly. "But it's surprising to find that some people still feel that conservation is unnecessary, that there are no real shortages and perhaps the whole thing is an oil industry hoax. "I'm not going to put myself in the position of defending the oil industry — 1 don't know anything about that business, but I am personally convinced we must all learn to live in a world of diminishing resources, and I'm also convinced that the top-level support of the Du Pont company for the conserva tion effort is real. Company concern is born of necessity, of real concern for a real problem. "Impressive energy savings have been accomplished on this plant. I've also heard it said that all the easy work has been done, the big savings already made. The challenge to this committee now is that of imagination and ingenuity, because it seems probable that much more can be saved. "It may be unavoidable, but there seems to be a lot of BTU's rising into the sky in those white plumes I see when I come into the plant on a frosty morning. We spent 5.6 million dollars for energy last year; about half for fuel, half for electricity. We're estimating an energy bill of 6.2 million for 1979, and it looks like it's going to keep climbing by about ten percent a year. The prob lem isn't going away. Energy price increases are going to make it very costly to operate this plant. "Last year this committee reached 77% of its objective. You may not think that's too good, but you shouldn't be discouraged by failing to reach your goal. Seventy-seven percent of an ambitious objective is a lot better than 110% of a mediocre one. "Keep your momentum. Look at the problem with new eyes, don't let missing last year's target interfere with setting a bold goal for this year. "I assure you that management is interested in your progress and that a finger is being kept on energy conserva tion. Your activities and accomplish ments are worthwhile and they are noticed. "ThanksI And give this year your best shot." CAR POOLS SAVE GASOLINE Pool it Norm addresses energy committee. "We, as Americans, are going to have to change our style of living. "I think, as a country, we're becoming more conscious of waste. A young person of ten years ago might have looked at something coming from a factory's stack and called it 'pollution'. Today they see the same thing and start talking about wasted energy. As a nation. Address Correction Requested Box 267, Brevard, N. C. 28712 OL ROU PISGAi. Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Brevard, N.C. Permit #66